Chief Design and industrialization

Position Summary
The Chief Design & Industrialization (CDI) is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the design, engineering, testing, validation, and industrialization of our boat models. Reporting directly to the CEO and working hand-in-hand with the Production Office, PMO, and Business Development, the CDI ensures that every model is not only innovative and certifiable, but also scalable, manufacturable, and aligned with market opportunities.
This role bridges creativity with industrial execution—transforming ideas into validated, production-ready solutions that strengthen the company’s position in the market.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
•Lead the Design & Industrialization Office, aligning its strategy and activities with R&D and overall company goals.
•Translate market opportunities and customer needs (from Business Development) into engineering and design requirements.
•Partner closely with the Production Office and PMO to guarantee on-time delivery, cost control, and quality compliance.
Design & Engineering
•Oversee the design, engineering, testing, and validation of each model, ensuring performance, safety, and certification.
•Establish documentation and configuration management systems for product traceability.
•Drive innovation in design methods, materials, and sustainable technologies.

Industrialization & Production Readiness
•Lead industrialization efforts to move from prototype to production, ensuring scalability and manufacturability.
•Embed design-for-manufacturing (DFM) practices in collaboration with production teams and suppliers.
•Work with the Production Office to continuously improve processes for cost efficiency, quality, and reduced time-to-market.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
•With PMO: Ensure priorities, milestones, and resources are fully aligned across Design, Production, and Sales.
•With Business Development: Integrate market insights and customer feedback into product requirements and long-term design strategy.
•With Production Office: Ensure smooth handover of designs to manufacturing partners, with clear documentation and validation processes.
•Support Finance & HR with budgeting, resourcing, and skills development.

Qualifications & Experience
•Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Naval Architecture, Industrial Design, or related field.
•10+ years of experience in product design and industrialization, ideally in marine, aerospace, or automotive industries.
•Proven track record leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering products from concept to industrialization.
•Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, certification, and supply chain collaboration.
•Experience working closely with commercial and production teams to align technology with market needs.

Key Skills
•Leadership and team management
•End-to-end product design & industrialization
•Cross-functional collaboration (Production, PMO, Business Development)
•Certification and compliance expertise
•Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
•Personal Attributes
•Visionary thinker with a pragmatic, delivery-oriented approach
•Concrete, objective, and performance-driven, with a clear focus on measurable results
•Strong communicator and natural collaborator across functions
•Skilled in risk assessment and management, ensuring issues are anticipated and mitigated early
•Passion for innovation, quality, and sustainability
•Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment
Working Conditions & Interfaces
•Based in Switzerland with frequent travel to Portugal and partner/customer sites
•Reports directly to the CEO and collaborates closely with the PMO, Production, and

Business Development teams
•Ensures alignment between internal stakeholders