Director Mission Delivery and Operations

About the role

STARK is at the forefront of defense technology, developing autonomous, software-defined, and mass-scalable systems for air, land, and sea. Our software platform serves as the central cognitive core, integrating autonomy, navigation, targeting, sensing, mission control, and ground-station UI. Our software program comprises several teams around R&D on both Command&Control (C2) and Autonomy functions as well as Delivery and Operations capabilities. Every unmanned system in the STARK portfolio relies on this single, rapidly evolving, reliable, and intelligent software program. Our teams are distributed across several locations in Europe and Ukraine. To drive mission delivery by bringing a strong market and project perspective to enhance our development teams - we are looking for a Director Mission Delivery and Operations . Minerva is STARK's command and control software - the brain that connects operators to autonomous systems across multiple domains in real time. The Minerva team is a small, senior software group based in Berlin and Munich, working directly with our systems and hardware teams to build mission-critical C2 capabilities deployed in active operational environments. We move fast, ship real software, and operate under constraints most engineers never encounter - low-bandwidth networks, air-gapped devices, high-stakes decision loops. There is no room for abstraction for its own sake. Everything we build ends up in the hands of real operators in the field . As the Director of Mission Delivery and Operations , you are the bridge between Stark's cutting-edge code and our customers' highest-stakes challenges. Your mandate is to: Architect , build , and lead the unified engine that drives technical project management, mission enablement, and customer solutions engineering. You will own the entire delivery lifecycle , ensuring that our software doesn't just "deploy," but fundamentally transforms customer operations. This involves creating the frameworks , hiring the talent, and designing the technical processes that turn complex, bespoke integrations into a scalable, repeatable science. You are a systems-thinker who finds beauty in operational efficiency and possesses the grit to scale a department from the ground up in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where "good enough" is never the standard. The role is for someone who: Thrives in chaos and operates with a calm sense of purpose. Loves shaping teams for mission delivery. Communicates crisply and persuasively across all levels. Keeps teams aligned and executing flawlessly when stakes are at their highest. Turns ambiguity into a clear, actionable direction. 1. Architect the Delivery Engine Modular Delivery Framework: Design the end-to-end "Stark Way" for technical deployments, turning bespoke customer requirements into a scalable, modular delivery science that avoids the "custom-code trap." Tactical Feedback Integration: Establish "boots-on-the-ground" feedback loops with end-users to bridge the gap between technical specs and frontline realities, ensuring software iterations are battle-hardened. Rapid Tactical Deployment: Establish and lead a "Rapid Response" capability to execute high-velocity R&D prototypes and urgent, off-cycle system deployments. You will ensure the organization can pivot instantly to meet emerging threats or immediate customer requirements without compromising core stability. Field-to-Engineering Translation: Build the pipeline that synthesizes complex field intelligence into actionable engineering priorities, ensuring "impact" is measured by mission success and user adoption. 2. Shape Cross-functional Synthesis Strategic Executive Alignment: Prepare high-velocity decision briefs and risk assessments for the executive team, providing the technical and operational clarity needed to make high-stakes calls with confidence. Operational Gatekeeping & Proxy: Serve as the primary filter for technical leadership, managing external demands and representing the program's interests in high-level steering committees and partner meetings. High-Impact Special Projects: Take full ownership of complex, company-wide initiatives that don't fit into a single bucket-such as cross-departmental product launches or emergency strategic shifts-and drive them to completion. Stakeholder Trust & Relationship Architecture: Cultivate deep-rooted trust with key military partners and program offices, embedding Stark's solutions into their long-term operational and budgetary frameworks. 3. Ensure operational Excellence & Real-Time visibility Evolve the 'Delivery OS': Continually refine the internal operating processes of the mission delivery team, ensuring the organization can double in size and complexity without doubling in bureaucracy. Strategic Talent Acquisition: Own the architectural design of your department's growth, personally identifying and landing "force-multiplier" talent to scale the mission delivery and solutions engineering teams. Data-Driven P

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