Industrialisation Lead

About ZELP

ZELP is an agricultural technology company committed to creating a sustainable future for agriculture - one that meets the needs of present and future generations, promoting human and environmental health, animal welfare, and social and economic equity.

Our first focus is to develop and scale technology that measures and mitigates methane emissions in the livestock industry. Today, 1.3 billion people rely on the industry for their livelihoods and food security. However, it is the single biggest human-driven source of methane emissions globally, emitting more than both the oil & gas industry and the coal industry.

The deployment of our technologies on a global scale has the potential to drive half the global methane reduction needed by 2030, and to transform the beef and dairy industries.

ZELP was an inaugural winner of the Terra Carta Design Lab, and has received funding and support from the European Commission, Innovate UK, The Global Methane Hub and the Gates Foundation.

Role Summary

As we bring our first products into the market and ramp-up production, we are looking for an Industrialisation Lead. You’ll own the journey from prototype to scalable production—turning great design into world-class manufacture. This is a hands-on role for someone who loves building processes as much as products: designing assembly methods and tooling, embedding DfM with design teams, and ensuring every build hits cost, quality, and delivery targets. You’ll shape how we make things—safely, efficiently, and effectively—and leave your mark on a new industry.

Main Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for all manufacturing ramp-up and ongoing activities, including but not limited to:
• Ensuring that the design of the product and parts is optimised for efficient, effective manufacturing and assembly
• Designing and implementing in-house final assembly processes, including all required jigs and equipment
• Collaborating closely with, and as necessary training, design engineers and leaders to ensure DfM is part of the way we work
• Ensure that cost, quality and on time delivery are continuously monitored and improved
• Ensure that our manufacturing processes, equipment and environment enable the highest levels of workplace safety
• Implement appropriate tools and processes for inventory and build tracking and management
• Collaborate with the supply chain team and work with suppliers as needed to ensure their ability to deliver on time, cost and quality requirements

Requirements

Required

• >5 years experience in a similar role
• Deep knowledge of Design for Manufacturing best practices
• Experience in executing Design to Cost or Design to Value projects
• Experience in designing and implementing new manufacturing processes from scratch
• Experience of team leadership, especially day-to-day assembly operations or equivalent
• Thorough understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles and experience in their implementation
• Good practical knowledge of various Root Cause Problem Solving approaches
• Educated to degree level in Engineering, or having equivalent professional experience and training
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, small-team environment where systems are still being built
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills—able to influence across design, production, and supply chain

Nice to have / advantages

• Comparable device experience; medical products, consumer electronics
• Experience of implementing new IT tools/systems e.g. MES, ERP
• Experience in a high-growth start-up
• High volume manufacturing experience
• Experience of design and/or sourcing of bespoke manufacturing jigs, equipment and workstations
• Experience in supplier development