Supply Chain and Manufacturing Lead

About the Role

North Vector Dynamics is entering a critical phase. We’ve built the technology. Now we need to build the machine that builds the technology, at scale. We’re looking for a Supply Chain and Manufacturing Lead to own the transition from innovation-stage production to the high-volume, repeatable manufacturing required to deliver air defence systems in quantity. This is not a role for someone who manages steady-state operations. It’s a role for someone who has done the hard work of standing up manufacturing capability at a company in motion, someone who understands both the technical and operational sides of producing complex physical products, and who has the scars and the playbook to prove it. The ideal candidate has 5–10 years of experience in a startup that scaled, a mission-driven hardware company, or a high-tempo defence or aerospace manufacturing environment. You know what it takes to go from low-rate initial production to high-rate, and you know where the bodies are buried along the way. If you’re energized by the challenge of building a world-class manufacturing operation from the ground up, for a product that genuinely matters: this role was written for you.

What You’ll Do

• Own the end-to-end manufacturing strategy for North Vector Dynamics: defining the roadmap from current low-rate production through to the high-volume assembly and delivery of air defence systems at scale.

• Design, build, and continuously improve the production systems, assembly processes, and manufacturing infrastructure needed to support rapid scale-up without sacrificing quality or reliability.

• Lead the supply chain from the ground up: identifying and qualifying suppliers, negotiating terms, managing vendor relationships, and building the resilient, compliant supply base required for defence hardware production.

• Develop and implement production planning, inventory management, and materials requirements processes that keep pace with a fast-moving development and delivery schedule.

• Work closely with the engineering team to ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability: driving DFM/DFA principles early in the product development cycle and reducing the cost and complexity of production.

• Establish and own the quality management system for manufacturing operations, including inspection protocols, non-conformance processes, and the documentation standards required for defence customers and certification bodies.

• Build and manage relationships with contract manufacturers, machine shops, electronics assembly houses, and other production partners as the company scales beyond what it builds in-house.

• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks: including single-source dependencies, long-lead components, and export-controlled materials, before they become programme-level problems.

• Track production metrics, yield rates, cycle times, and cost drivers, and use that data to drive continuous improvement across the manufacturing operation.

• Play an active role in shaping the physical facilities and tooling investments required to support the next phase of growth.

• Step into whatever the mission demands: this is a startup, and no two weeks will look the same.

What You Bring

Required

• 5–10 years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing, or operations roles, with a clear track record of scaling physical product manufacturing, not just maintaining it.

• Hands-on experience taking a hardware product from low-rate or prototype production into higher-volume, repeatable manufacturing, you’ve lived through the growing pains and know how to get ahead of them.

• Deep understanding of supply chain fundamentals: supplier qualification, procurement, inventory management, lead time reduction, and risk mitigation for complex, multi-component assemblies.

• Strong working knowledge of quality management systems and manufacturing documentation standards: including process control, inspection planning, and non-conformance management.

• Proficiency in DFM/DFA principles and the ability to engage engineering teams early to shape products that are practical to build at scale.

• A builder’s mindset and genuine comfort with ambiguity, you’ve created manufacturing infrastructure from scratch before and you know what it takes.

• Strong project management instincts and the ability to juggle competing priorities across supply chain, production, and internal stakeholders without losing momentum.

Preferred

• Experience in a startup or scale-up environment where you’ve had to build manufacturing capability with limited resources and no established playbook: this context is highly valued over large-company operations experience alone.

• Background in defence, aerospace, robotics, or another regulated hardware sector where quality, traceability, and compliance are non-negotiable.

• Familiarity with defence-specific supply chain requirements, including the Controlled Goods Program (CGP), ITAR/EAR considerations for components and assemblies, and Canadian or allied procurement standards.

• Experience managing electronics and electromechanical assembly: including PCB assembly, harnessing, and the integration of precision mechanical and electronic subsystems.

• Military background is a strong asset, we deeply value the discipline, operational rigour, and mission focus that veterans bring. Candidates with prior service in logistics, engineering, or technical roles in the Canadian Armed Forces or allied militaries are highly encouraged to apply.

• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or equivalent continuous improvement methodologies applied in a high-mix, lower-volume production environment.

• Post-secondary education in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, operations management, or a closely related field.

Why North Vector Dynamics

• Real ownership from day one, the systems and processes you build will be foundational to how this company operates for years to come.

• We’re working on technology that matters at a national and global level, and every person on the team feels that weight and that purpose.

• A tight-knit, high-calibre team that moves fast, holds each other to a high standard, and doesn’t waste time on bureaucracy for its own sake.

• Competitive compensation and meaningful upside from joining an early-stage company at the forefront of the defence technology sector.

• On-site in Calgary, AB, a growing hub for tech and defence, with a culture built around resilience and getting things done.