Head of R&D

STARK is a European defence technology company founded in 2023, specialising in the development and production of advanced UAV systems for modern military operations. Our flagship platform, Virtus, is a next-generation VTOL loitering munition system that combines precision, autonomy, and reliability to deliver tactical superiority on the battlefield. You will become part of the Ukrainian team at the international company Stark. We're looking for a visionary Head of R&D to become the main driver and "technical conductor" of our development lifecycle in Ukraine. In this role, you will hold the helicopter view of our entire ecosystem, seamlessly bridging our Ukrainian hardware and software teams with our European counterparts.

You won't just manage; you will orchestrate the process — turning complex technological concepts into field-proven, cutting-edge unmanned systems. If you can balance system architecture, strategic OKR planning, and high-energy leadership to drive innovation forward, this role is for you. Strategic & Technical Orchestration ("Helicopter View")

• Drive the R&D roadmap: own the execution of the product strategy, maintaining a comprehensive helicopter view of both hardware (HW) and software (SW) development streams.
• OKR Planning & Execution: define, align, and cascade strategic OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to the engineering teams, ensuring clear focus and measurable outcomes.
• System Architecture Oversight: act as the ultimate guard of technical synergy, reviewing and approving key design decisions across embedded systems, electronics, mechanics, and software.
• Balance Innovation & Delivery: manage priorities between experimental research, system improvements, and tight delivery timelines for field-ready solutions.

The Cross-Border Bridge & Collaboration

• UA-EU Bridge: act as the primary cross-functional bridge, aligning development processes, technical requirements, and knowledge sharing between Ukrainian R&D forces and European teams.
• Cross-functional alignment: partner with Manufacturing, QA, and Delivery teams to ensure design-for-production readiness and fast feedback loops from testing campaigns.

Team & Process Driving

• Lead & Inspire: cultivate a high-performing, multidisciplinary team (electronics, mechanics, embedded, and software engineers) in Ukraine.
• Optimize Workflows: implement agile, transparent project tracking (Jira, Confluence) and robust reporting routines to keep the entire development engine running smoothly.

• 7+ years of experience in engineering or R&D leadership within UAVs, robotics, aerospace, or complex mechatronic systems.
• Deep Domain Expertise: deep understanding of the principles, architecture, and technologies of unmanned/autonomous systems.
• Proven Leadership: experience leading multidisciplinary HW/SW engineering teams and managing complex R&D budgets/timelines.
• Strategic Planning: strong experience with OKR frameworks and tracking milestones from concept to deployment.
• Communication & Bridge-Building: exceptional communication skills with experience aligning distributed or international teams.
• Language: Fluent or Upper-Intermediate English (both written and spoken) is a must for continuous syncs with European stakeholders.

Personal Qualities

• The Driver Mentality: proactive, high-energy leader who takes full ownership and builds structured processes out of chaos or uncertainty.
• System-Architect Mindset: ability to see the big picture (helicopter view) while understanding technical technicalities at a granular level.
• Natural Collaborator: diplomatic yet assertive, capable of unifying teams across different geographies and cultures.

• Direct background in Defense Tech or advanced aerospace projects.
• Experience bringing prototypes into low-rate initial production (LRIP).
• Knowledge of certification, compliance, and testing standards for military or industrial UAVs.