Head of Engineering - Manufacturing & Automation
Head of Engineering & Automation | Build a Global-Scale Manufacturing Platform
On-site in Berlin
Are you a visionary Engineering Director ready for the ultimate greenfield challenge?
Join a highly-funded, purpose-driven food technology leader that is fundamentally reshaping the future of food and tackling climate change. We have successfully launched across a major national market and are now entering the hyper-scaling phase.
We are seeking an elite engineering leader to architect, build, and deploy a new, fully automated, high-hygiene production facility in Germany—a massive 10x-20x scale-up project from the ground up within 12 months. This is a chance to turn ambitious plans into operational reality.
The Challenge & Core Deliverables
As our Head of Engineering, your focus will be on the creation and leadership of our technical manufacturing platform.
- Greenfield Factory Build: Lead the full lifecycle of a major capital project: design, equipment selection, site build-out, and automation integration for a cutting-edge food production line in Germany.
- Engineering Leadership: Lead and mentor a small, high-performing in-house team of 6-8 Mechanical Engineers focused on machine development, rapid prototyping, and complex systems integration.
- Technical Project Authority: Drive complex projects across mechanical, electrical, and automation engineering. You will be the hands-on technical expert, navigating seamlessly between strategic planning and detailed implementation.
- Cross-Functional Management: Manage external contractors, coordinate the project timeline with R&D, Operations, Quality Assurance, and the Supply Chain, ensuring robust project controls are in place.
Essential Requirements (The Non-Negotiables)
This role requires a rare combination of industrial automation, mechanical design, and high-volume manufacturing expertise.
- Experience: 10+ years of professional experience in automated manufacturing (ideally Food Technology, Pharma, or Advanced FMCG), with 5+ years in leadership managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
- Automation Stack: Proven, deep proficiency with industrial controls software and systems, specifically EPLAN, Beckhoff, and Siemens.
- Technical Depth: Expertise in machine design, material selection, mechanical system optimisation, and operational requirements for high-volume production in critical hygiene environments.
- Compliance: Mandatory understanding of applicable German/EU safety and technical standards (e.g., VDE100, EU Machinery Directive, EN 60204-1).
- Location & Language: Fluency in English and German is essential for managing local teams, contractors, and regulatory requirements in Berlin.
If you are a highly strategic Mechatronics or Electrical Engineering Master who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment and wants to see their technical blueprints fundamentally shape a sustainable future, we encourage you to apply.
Ready to lead a technical transformation? Apply Now!
By applying to this role you understand that we may collect your personal data and store and process it on our systems. For more information please see our Privacy Notice https://eu-recruit.com/about-us/privacy-notice/