Head of Production Engineering

A career at Horizon is for those who want to do something extraordinary, yet with meaningful purpose. We take pride in pushing the boundaries of technology and customer experience to deliver something that has never been done before. We are a fast-moving organization that promotes a hands‑on approach, supporting each other through the tough spots, generating a close-knit team with a family feel.

What we do here is hard, but then very few things worth achieving are easy. By joining Horizon, you will have the opportunity to work with our world‑class entrepreneurial team who are passionate about delivering something special.

What we need you to bring.

Horizon Aircraft is seeking an experienced and hands‑on Head of Production Engineering to join our growing team at a pivotal stage of development. This is a ground‑floor opportunity to shape the production culture, processes, and team of a cutting‑edge aerospace startup. You will be responsible for standing up the production facility from the inside out — writing the procedures, building the team, and simultaneously rolling up your sleeves to assemble the first‑of‑type developmental demonstrator aircraft.

This role demands a rare combination of strategic thinking and practical execution. You are equally comfortable writing a build plan as you are torquing a fastener or inspecting a control surface.

Your Day-to-Day:

– Facility & Process Development

– Develop, document, and implement production procedures, work instructions, and manufacturing plans from scratch, appropriate to a first‑of‑type developmental build environment.

– Establish production workflows, tooling strategies, FOD (Foreign Object Debris/Damage) prevention programs, and shop floor organization standards.

– Define and implement configuration management and build conformity practices consistent with developmental demonstrator requirements.

– Collaborate with engineering to translate design intent into practical, executable assembly procedures.

– Build the groundwork for a future transition to certified production, anticipating AS9100, Transport Canada, and/or FAA regulatory requirements.

– Quality Assurance & Build Conformity

– Establish and maintain a quality management framework appropriate to a developmental build program, with clear traceability and inspection checkpoints.

– Understand and communicate the distinction between first‑of‑type/developmental builds and certified production runs — applying the appropriate level of rigor and documentation at each stage.

– Implement build conformity records, non‑conformance reporting (NCR) processes, and corrective action workflows.

– Serve as the primary production interface for internal quality reviews, ensuring that deviations and discrepancies are properly documented and dispositioned.

– Team Building & Leadership

– Identify staffing needs and participate in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding production and quality technicians.

– Develop role definitions, training plans, and competency standards for the production team.

– Foster a culture of safety, craftsmanship, accountability, and continuous improvement from day one.

– Mentor and lead by example on the shop floor.

– Hands‑On Assembly

– Actively participate in the physical assembly of first‑of‑type developmental demonstrator aircraft alongside the team.

– Apply practical knowledge of aerospace assembly techniques including composite structures, structural fastening, systems integration, and rigging as applicable to the aircraft type.

– Identify and flag producibility issues, feeding lessons learned back into engineering and procedure updates.

– Cross‑Functional Collaboration

– Work closely with the Chief Engineer, Program Manager, and test team to align production activities with program milestones.

– Support the transition planning from developmental demonstrator builds toward future certified production, providing production readiness input.

– Participate in design reviews, build planning meetings, and program risk assessments from a production perspective.

Qualifications:

– 8+ years of hands‑on aerospace manufacturing or assembly experience, with demonstrated involvement in early‑stage or first‑of‑type builds.

– Direct experience working within or alongside a Quality Assurance function, with working knowledge of build conformity, NCR processes, and inspection methods.

– Clear understanding of the difference between developmental/experimental builds and certified production environments, and the documentation and process expectations of each.

– Proven ability to write production procedures, work instructions, or manufacturing plans.

– Experience hiring, training, or leading small production or technician teams.

– Strong working knowledge of FOD prevention, tool control, and general shop safety practices.

– Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, models, and specifications.

Preferred

– Experience at an aviation startup, OEM, or Tier 1 aerospace supplier during a new aircraft development or first‑flight campaign.

– Familiarity with Transport Canada, FAA, or EASA regulatory frameworks for developmental and type‑certified aircraft.

– Exposure to AS9100 quality management systems or equivalent.

– Background in composite structures, hybrid powertrains, and unconventional aircraft configurations.

– Experience supporting a transition from R&D builds to a structured production environment.

About Your Future Team.

As part of the team, you will tackle challenges and deliver something that has never been done before. The team is currently full of multi-skilled individuals who are some of the first Engineers to have joined Horizon. Your future team has an open, honest, and family first culture, who work hard and have fun doing it.

Our Benefits.

People are the heart of our success, and we like to provide transparency in the way we operate. This is why our benefits are beyond the normal for Ontario, and we are constantly trying to improve these further.

• No Holiday Cap
• Competitive Group Benefits Plan
• Company Stock Purchase Program
• Hybrid Work Options

This is an incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of a ground‑breaking industry and work with a dynamic and innovative team. We offer a competitive salary, and the opportunity to work on some of the most exciting aerospace projects of our time.

Location.

We are located just outside of Lindsay, in the Kawartha Lakes area of Ontario, Canada. Our team is onsite at our facility, as a group, a minimum of two days per week. We expect the same from you, and we are mindful of what a realistic commute would be to keep you safe and at your best. We offer relocation allowances in appropriate cases.