Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About the role

HyLight is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to turn its autonomous hydrogen airship technology into a scalable industrial product. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will be the operational backbone that drives production, quality, and organizational excellence as the company moves from prototype to global leader.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the transition from prototype to serial production, defining the industrialization roadmap and ramp‑up plans.
• Build and optimise the supply chain, qualify suppliers, and manage procurement for complex aerospace hardware.
• Scale assembly, integration and testing processes for a new class of aircraft.
• Establish a robust quality management system suitable for regulated aerospace environments and drive certification readiness.
• Embed a culture of safety, reliability and continuous improvement on the shop floor.
• Design and implement operational processes, tools, KPIs and governance structures.
• Recruit, structure and develop high‑performing operational teams.
• Translate corporate strategy into operational priorities and coordinate across engineering, product, commercial and regulatory functions.

Required profile

• Proven experience scaling hardware or deep‑tech companies, preferably in aerospace or related sectors.
• Strong operational rigor with a track record of building production and quality systems.
• Hands‑on problem‑solver who can work on the ground and in the airbase environment.
• Leadership ability to recruit, develop and align cross‑functional teams.
• Founder‑level ownership mindset and ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑stakes setting.

Required skills

• Production planning and industrialization
• Supply chain management
• Quality management systems (QMS) for aerospace
• Regulatory compliance and certification processes