Production Team Lead

Job description

Role Highlights: - Title: Production Team Lead - Department: Global Manufacturing Organization - Reports to: Head of MAITE, Optics - Location: Lisbon, Portugal - Type of Contract: Permanent - Working model: On-site - Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required) Why this role matters: ICEYE is seeking a Production Team Lead to lead the day-to-day execution of Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing activities, including spacecraft assembly and the integration of optical payloads. This is an operational leadership role in an early-stage production environment, where production processes, teams, and operating routines are being established and scaled. You will be responsible for translating production plans and engineering requirements into safe, high-quality, efficient, and predictable MAIT execution. This includes managing daily priorities, resources, production flow, readiness, schedule adherence, quality, productivity, and escalation of issues. You will establish and maintain a structured production management system based on clear priorities, visual management, daily performance reviews, standard work, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, and operational efficiency. The role requires a strong presence on the production floor and in cleanroom environments, working closely with AIT Engineering, Quality, Planning, Logistics, Manufacturing Engineering, and other stakeholders to ensure successful spacecraft builds and payload integration. You will play a key role in developing the production organization, establishing operational discipline, and building the capabilities required to scale satellite production. This is a talent pool posting. We are building our Lisbon manufacturing organisation ahead of site ramp-up. We expect this role to open formally in Q4 2026. Applying now registers your interest early and puts you at the front of the process when the req goes live. Who We Are ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth. ICEYE owns the world's largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system. ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defence and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future. Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1000 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. What you will do - Lead the day-to-day execution of Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing (MAIT) activities, including spacecraft assembly and optical payload integration. - Lead and develop the production team, setting clear priorities, responsibilities, and performance expectations. - Manage daily production execution, including capacity, resources, production flow, schedule, and readiness. - Establish effective daily management routines, visual management, and performance tracking to drive safe, high-quality, and efficient execution. - Drive production ramp-up, readiness, and continuous improvement across processes, workstations, and production flow. - Apply Lean manufacturing principles to improve productivity, quality, flow, and repeatability, including 5S, Kaizen, standard work, and visual management. - Identify and resolve production issues through structured problem-solving and root cause analysis, working closely with Engineering and Quality. - Ensure production processes, work instructions, tooling, equipment, and resources are ready and properly implemented before execution. - Work closely with AIT Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Planning, and Logistics to ensure successful spacecraft builds and payload integration. - Drive a strong culture of safety, quality, ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement on the production floor. What we’re looking for Must haves: - 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, production, assembly, integration, or testing of complex hardware. - Proven experience leading production or manufacturing teams, including people management. - Experience in aerospace, space, aircraft, defense, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments. - Experience supporting production ramp-up, new factory setup, or new production line introduction. - Experience with Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies, including tools such as 5S, Kaizen, standard work, or visual management. - Experience with capacity planning, takt time, line balancing, or production flow optimization. - Experience working with MES, ERP, test data management, or similar production systems. - Experience working with complex hardware in cleanroom or controlled manufacturing environments. - Strong problem-solving skills, including structured root cause analysis and corrective actions. - Understanding of production flow and push/pull production systems. - Strong communication and stakeholder management skills. - Strong written and spoken English. Nice-to-haves: - Experience with satellite assembly, integration, and testing. - Experience with optical payload integration or other high-precision hardware. - Experience with Value Stream Mapping (VSM) or other advanced Lean tools. - Experience with NPI, industrialization, or product ramp-up. - Experience working closely with Engineering teams during new product introduction or production industrialization. - Experience with manufacturing quality tools such as PFMEA, control plans, or process capability. Application Process - Talent Acquisition interview - Hiring manager interview - Technical interview, including a technical challenge - Hiring team + director-level interview - Offer Working at ICEYE At ICEYE, you’ll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win. How We Work (Our Values) - Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way. - Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the “why” behind decisions. - See the big picture: Stay close to what’s happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others. - Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions. - Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift. - Have fun: What we do matters—and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins. Benefits Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing, at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process. Base salary range for this position is dependant on experience, and will be negotiated individually. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table. We’re committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us—we’ll do our best to help. Apply now to start your ICEYE journey, and help us continue to make the impossible possible together. Read more about ICEYE and working with us at iceye.com http://iceye.com.