ILS Manager (Programmes)

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.
 
By joining Hypersonica, 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

- Own the Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) workstream - spanning LSA, maintenance planning, provisioning/spares optimization, technical publications, training needs analysis, and obsolescence management - end-to-end for a programme or major workstream cluster, building plans and milestones from scratch.

- Work directly with engineering to ensure supportability and maintainability considerations are fed into design decisions early, and manage logistics/support risk proactively rather than reactively.

- Build and manage working-level customer relationships (including customer logistics and support authorities), translating customer requirements into ILS deliverables and programme outcomes.

- Structure ILS-related bid and proposal content, and evaluate ILS subcontractors and suppliers (e.g. training providers, spares and technical publication suppliers) in depth, identifying new high-potential partners.

- Build deep subject-matter expertise in ILS, including the customer's operational perspective on supportability, and use it to shape programme strategy, risk decisions, and lessons learned shared beyond your own team.

- Establish and refine ILS processes, templates, and structures where none yet exist, acting as a guardian of efficiency and avoiding unnecessary process overhead.

- Own and federate ILS knowledge and skills across the team, acting as the go-to reference for supportability and logistics questions and stepping into unowned problems within your scope rather than waiting for assignment.

- Make sound decisions on supportability and logistics trade-offs under real ambiguity, judging which risks are acceptable to carry versus which must be escalated, and know when to pull in engineering, quality, or commercial expertise.

Who you are

- Typically, five or more years of relevant Integrated Logistics Support within a defence, aerospace, or comparably regulated engineering environment, having structured and delivered an ILS workstream or small programme end-to-end.

- Working knowledge of core ILS disciplines - LSA, maintenance/RCM planning, provisioning and spares optimization, technical publications, training needs analysis, and obsolescence management - and familiarity with relevant standards as applicable to defence programmes.

- A background in engineering, logistics, materiel management, or a similarly relevant discipline, giving genuine fluency with technical and supportability content.

- Comfortable building processes and structures where none exist yet, with a bias toward lean, fit-for-purpose practice over importing heavy process for its own sake.

- Confident operating independently with customers and subcontractors, and credible contributing to commercial content such as bids, statements of work, and subcontractor evaluation.

- Sound judgment under ambiguity: able to weigh supportability, cost, and schedule trade-offs, prioritize across competing demands, and recognize the limits of your own expertise.

- Fluent in English; German fluency desirable given our bilingual working environment, though not required for this specialist discipline.

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 leading experts across engineering, operations, business development, and defence, with genuine opportunities to learn, contribute, and grow.

- Exposure to the full lifecycle of complex defence programmes, from customer requirements and commercial strategy through to engineering delivery and flight testing.

- High ownership and autonomy: no time tracking and no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.

- A fast-paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly and feedback from testing 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 with responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.

At Hypersonica, every hire raises the bar. We are deliberately small, intensely capable, and deeply mission-driven. If this role feels like a strong fit, or if you believe you bring something exceptional that goes beyond the description, we encourage you to apply.
 
Hypersonica is an equal-opportunity employer and assesses candidates solely on merit, capability, and potential.
 
You can apply directly to this role or reach out to Nathan Sweeney, Head of Talent. We review every application and aim to respond to all candidates within two weeks, whether the answer is yes or no.