International Manufacturing Capability & Workforce Manager

D-Orbit is looking for an International Manufacturing Capability & Workforce Manager to join our Manufacturing & Warehouse team, based in Fino Mornasco, Italy.

In this role, you will lead the development and deployment of manufacturing capabilities across D-Orbit’s international expansion initiatives, including Distributed Space facilities and new manufacturing sites. The role manages the complete lifecycle of workforce deployment, from recruitment and technical assessment to training, certification, onboarding, and operational readiness of local manufacturing teams.

Working closely with local partners, HR, Manufacturing Leads, and international management teams, this position ensures that new facilities are staffed with qualified personnel who are fully trained on D-Orbit processes, standards, systems, and operational practices before production activities begin.

The position requires extensive international travel and on-site presence to support workforce creation, capability transfer, and operational ramp-up in new locations such as Saudi Arabia, Greece and future Distributed Space or, more generally, manufacturing internationalization programs.

Key Responsibilities & Tasks:International Workforce Acquisition & Assessment

• Define recruitment plans for manufacturing and warehouse personnel required by new international sites.

• Screen CVs and evaluate candidate suitability against technical and operational requirements.

• Participate in interviews together with local partners, HR teams, and site management.

• Conduct technical assessments, practical tests, and competency evaluations to validate candidate capabilities.

• Support the selection of operators, technicians, inspectors, warehouse personnel, and manufacturing leaders.

• Establish competency criteria and hiring standards for manufacturing roles across all manufacturing internationalization programs.

• Establish repeatable deployment models that can be replicated across future international sites.

International Training & Capability Development

• Develop and maintain training programs covering manufacturing processes, quality standards, logistics flows, production systems, and operational procedures.

• Deliver classroom training sessions for newly hired international personnel.

• Train personnel on D-Orbit manufacturing tools and digital platforms, including ERP, PLM, quality systems, and operational procedures.

• Assess training effectiveness and certify personnel readiness before site deployment.

Training Coordination & Knowledge Transfer

• Coordinate on-the-job training activities with Manufacturing Leads, Warehouse Managers, AIT department, BU, and Subject Matter Experts.

• Ensure alignment between classroom training, practical exercises, and operational requirements.

• Coordinate internal instructors and external training providers when specialized competencies are required.

• Organize training sessions delivered by external institutions, suppliers, and certification bodies.

International Personnel Hosting & Onboarding

• Manage the onboarding experience of international personnel during training periods in Italy.

• Coordinate training schedules, site access, operational activities, and integration with local teams.

• Act as primary point of contact for foreign personnel throughout their training journey.

• Monitor progress and support successful transition into operational roles.

Distributed Space Deployment Support

• Support the creation of manufacturing and warehouse organizations for new international facilities.

• Travel to international locations to support recruitment campaigns, technical evaluations, onboarding activities, and workforce ramp-up.

• Assist local management teams in establishing sustainable capability development processes.

• Support production readiness reviews from a workforce and competence perspective.

• Provide post-launch coaching and support until local teams achieve operational autonomy.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with HR, Manufacturing Engineering, AIT, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Process Engineering, and Production teams.

• Coordinate international workforce planning activities with site leaders and project managers.

• Ensure consistency of manufacturing culture, operational practices, and performance standards across global locations.

Requirements:

• Degree in Engineering, Industrial Technologies, Manufacturing Management, Organizational Development, or a related field.

• Experience in manufacturing operations, industrial training, workforce development, or production management.

• Experience in recruiting, assessing, and developing technical personnel. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production environments, quality systems, and industrial operations.

• Experience delivering technical training and developing training programs. Ability to work effectively across different cultures and international environments.

• Availability for frequent international travel and extended assignments abroad.

• Fluency in both English and Italian are required.

• Good Knowledge of Arabic and French are highly valued, and knowledge of additional languages will be considered a plus

Soft skills:

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Strong coaching and mentoring capabilities.

• Ability to assess people objectively based on competencies and performance standards.

• Strong organizational and project management skills.

• High level of autonomy and ownership.

• Cultural awareness and adaptability.

• Problem-solving mindset.

• Ability to build trust and credibility with both management and shop-floor personnel.

• Results-oriented approach with strong execution capability

We offer a base salary range of 36’000€ - 45’000€ gross per year for this role, depending on experience and location, plus a performance-based variable component. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, location, and internal consistency across comparable roles.

Additional Benefits

• Meal vouchers.

• Variable compensation.

• Wellhub platform, offering a wide range of fitness, wellness, and wellbeing services.

• Serenis platform, including unlimited individual psychotherapy, nutrition, and coaching sessions.

• Flexible working arrangements, including smart working options and flexible scheduling based on role and team requirements.

Who we are?

Are you ready to take your career to new heights? At D-Orbit, we're pioneering the future of space logistics and transportation. Established in 2011, our company has been at the forefront of helping businesses unlock the full potential of the final frontier—profitably and sustainably.

As a member of our team, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside a diverse group of highly skilled individuals, all driven by a shared passion for innovation and excellence. So, if you are passionate about space and ready to take your ambition to new heights, join us in our global mission to push the boundaries of what's possible!

D-Orbit is part of a broader group that also includes Planetek, bringing together complementary expertise in space logistics, Earth observation, geospatial solutions, and advanced space services. Together, we share a common ambition: to enable innovative, sustainable, and high-impact solutions across the space sector.

Why join D-Orbit?

• Work on missions that shape the future of space

• International and multidisciplinary environment

• Flexible working model

• Opportunity to contribute directly to company growth

• High level of autonomy and ownership

Hiring Process:Here’s how our hiring process works—simple and straightforward:

• Application Review – We carefully review applications that match the key requirements of the role. If your profile is selected for the next stage, a member of our People & Culture team will contact you directly.

We genuinely appreciate every application, even when there is not a match for the current opportunity.

• Introduction Call – A conversation with the People & Culture team to get to know each other, discuss the opportunity, and align expectations.

• Technical and Team Interviews – One or more interviews focused on the skills, experience, and approach relevant to the role.

• Offer – If there is a strong mutual fit, we will share an offer and discuss the next steps.

The exact process may vary depending on the role.

We aim to keep candidates informed throughout the process and appreciate your patience as we carefully evaluate applications.

We’re excited to get to know you and see if you might be the next person to help us shaping the future of space!

NON-EU applicants:At this time, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the country where the position is based.

Please note that this role requires a regular on-site presence and is not a fully remote position.

Some activities must be carried out in our facilities, many others are location-independent, and they can be performed effectively even remotely. This is why we don't measure the performance of people by how many hours they spend at the office: we only measure the outcome.

At D-Orbit, diversity and inclusivity are not just values, they are integral to our mission and the way we operate. We are committed to fostering an environment where all individuals are respected, valued, and celebrated for their unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is not only the right thing to do, but it also leads to better decision making, innovation, and overall success. We actively strive to build a culture where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work, and where all voices are heard and valued. We are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to share their ideas, and where everyone is given equal opportunities to grow and excel. We believe that our differences make us stronger, and we will continue to work diligently to create an inclusive culture at D-Orbit that reflects this belief.