Head of Mechanical Manufacturing (On-site in Abu Dhabi)

Head of Mechanical ManufacturingRole OverviewLead and oversee mechanical manufacturing operations, managing a team of engineers, technicians, and production staff to ensure efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality production of mechanical components. This senior leadership role owns end-to-end CNC machining and surface treatment operations, driving production readiness, capacity planning, and continuous improvement, while acting as the key operational interface with a third-party engineering and industrialization partner.Key ResponsibilitiesOversee daily production execution across CNC machining and surface treatment lines, from material intake through inspection and releaseOwn production planning and capacity management against machine, tooling, manpower, and material availabilityServe as the operational interface with third-party engineering/industrialization providers — coordinating drawings, CNC programs, tooling, fixtures, and process deliverablesDrive industrialization and new product readiness, including trials, first-off builds, process validation, and production ramp-upEnsure quality compliance, traceability, and adherence to approved specifications and process controlsLead, develop, and build capability within a team of supervisors, engineers, technicians, and operatorsCoordinate with Maintenance, Supply Chain, Quality, Planning, HSE, Programs, Finance, and Commercial teams to maintain uninterrupted, well-resourced productionMonitor KPIs (output, downtime, scrap, cycle time, delivery) and lead continuous improvement initiativesMaintain safety, environmental, and regulatory/audit complianceProvide senior management with clear visibility on production performance, constraints, third-party support, risks, and decisions requiredRequirementsBachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (Master's in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or Business Management preferred)10+ years' relevant production experience (10–12 years if postgraduate), including a proven senior manufacturing/production management roleStrong background in CNC machining, surface treatment, and mechanical manufacturing operationsExperience managing third-party engineering/industrialization service providers preferredSolid understanding of defence, aerospace, or automotive manufacturing standards (quality, traceability, configuration control, safety, regulatory compliance); experience supporting customer/regulatory audits preferredWorking knowledge of ERP/manufacturing systems, production reporting, and performance dataExpert-level competencies in analytical thinking, strategic thinking, decision-making, creativity/innovation, technical research, project management and engineering, product development, and knowledge of latest technologies