Head of Manufacturing (Scale-up & Operations)
About Milvus
Milvus Advanced is redefining materials science by replacing expensive, scarce elements (e.g., indium, gold, iridium, platinum) with high-performance, earth-abundant nanoalloys and functional materials. We have built a discovery and scale-up platform that turns deep chemistry into manufacturable products for energy, optoelectronics, and chemical manufacturing.
As critical minerals take centre stage geopolitically, we ask: what happens when key elements are constrained or run out? Rather than only optimising today's devices, we pursue transformational substitutions i.e., reducing dependence on fragile supply chains and rare elements by creating new, lab-made materials that are abundant, affordable, and sustainable.
Our technologies aim to:
* Reduce dependence on rare/critical metals
* Improve device efficiency, stability, and manufacturability
* Enable affordable, scalable next-gen materials and devices
* Accelerate the clean-tech transition
We are backed by leading global investors and are scaling rapidly from lab breakthroughs to real-world products. We have validated PGM-substitution materials and are now extending our platform into optoelectronics.
The role
You will own the journey from bench to pilot to small-series production for our nanomaterials and coated components (e.g., high-performance nanoalloy powders/inks, coated membranes and thin films). You will build processes, teams, suppliers, and a quality system that delivers cost, yield, and reliability at scale.
Location: Oxford & London
Outcomes (your first 6–12 months)
* Commission a pilot line (reactors, filtration, drying, coating, curing) with SOPs, batch records, and release criteria.
* Achieve target COGS and yield for at least two products (powder and coated film).
* Stand up a lightweight QMS (ISO-9001 aligned), SPC dashboards, and change control.
* Build asmall operations team (process/production techs) and a vetted supplier list.
* Deliver a 24-month capacity roadmap with CAPEX plan and unit-economics.
What you will do
* Process design & scale-up: Translate synth routes mg → g → kg; design mixing/heat-mass-transfer; select/qualify reactors, filtration/drying, mills, and coating.
* Manufacturing operations: Production scheduling, materials planning, inventory, RMAs; implement 5S and visual management.
* Coating & conversion: Wet-ink formulation, web handling, drying/curing, adhesion; scale CCM/optoelectronic films to roll-to-roll where practical.
* Data & systems: Choose/implement light MES/LIMS/ERP tooling; build traceability and batch genealogy.
* EHS & compliance: COSHH/DSEAR, solvent handling, waste streams, ATEX zoning, REACH/RoHS where applicable; own audits and training.
* Supply chain: Source/qualify raw materials; negotiate SLAs;
* People & culture: Hire, coach, and set crisp standards for safety, quality, and pace.
What you will bring
* 7–12+ years in chemical/process manufacturing or advanced coatings, with proven kg-scale (or larger) ramp.
* Hands-on scale-up of colloids/inks/slurries and thin-film coating
* Strong command of DOE, SPC, PFMEA/HAZOP, and process validation.
* Built or run a pilot line
* Mindset: rigorous, low-ego, safety-first, builder who loves turning messy R&D into repeatable output.
Why Milvus
Competitive salary + stock options Private health Training budget Big ownership, real impact.
How to apply
Email with your CV and a one-page scale-up case study (process, bottleneck, yield/COGS result).
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £55,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Oxford: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person