Head of Supply Chain

Job description

**Help Build Europe's Hypersonic Capability** At **Hypersonica**, we’re redefining what’s possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast. As our Head of Supply Chain UK you’re not stepping into a predefined role. You’re joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously. We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you’ve achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn’t fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe’s technological independence. ### What you'll do - Build and own Hypersonica’s UK supply chain capability from first principles, establishing a secure, resilient, and execution focused procurement function for complex aerospace hardware. - Lead sourcing and contracting across long lead, highly regulated propulsion and flight critical subsystems, ensuring schedule integrity under demanding national security constraints. - Develop and qualify a trusted supplier network across advanced materials, precision fabrication, high performance electronics, military grade avionics, and specialist manufacturing partners. - Negotiate and structure commercial agreements that balance cost, schedule, export controls, and security requirements within a UK defence acquisition environment. - Establish supplier onboarding, audit, and performance management frameworks aligned with aerospace quality standards and future AS9100 certification. - Work directly with engineering to translate technical requirements into executable procurement strategies, managing configuration changes and rapid iteration without compromising compliance. - Build the operational backbone of UK procurement: processes, tools, documentation discipline, and supplier risk management in a fast scaling defence start up. - Serve as the primary UK interface for controlled components, export considerations, and sensitive supply chain pathways, ensuring resilience against geopolitical and regulatory disruption. ### Who you are - An experienced aerospace or defence supply chain leader who has owned procurement of complex, high consequence hardware programmes. - Comfortable sourcing long lead propulsion adjacent systems, flight critical electronics, and military grade subsystems within tightly controlled regulatory environments. - Experienced operating under export control and UK national security frameworks, with strong instincts for compliance and discretion. - Proven in building supplier networks from scratch or transforming immature procurement functions into disciplined, scalable systems. - Commercially sharp and technically literate, able to challenge engineering assumptions while protecting schedule and cost. - Calm under pressure, capable of securing critical supply in constrained markets where availability and reliability matter more than price alone. - Energised by building something from nothing in a small, elite team where supply chain performance directly determines mission success. - Motivated by sovereign capability and the responsibility that comes with delivering nationally significant defence hardware. ### What we offer - A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe’s most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security. - Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow. - High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes. - A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions. - A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly. - Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.