Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About HyLight

We're on a mission to make the world more resilient to climate change. We build HyLighters, autonomous hydrogen airships that fly silently over the planet's critical infrastructure, spotting methane leaks and preventing power outages and wildfires, all with zero emissions. By 2030, we want to be the global leader in aerial monitoring. We've proven it flies. Now we're building the company to match the ambition, backed by Y Combinator and top‑tier investors, with the resources to move fast and think big. We don't care about traditional roles or titles. We just want people who are smart, proactive, and bring founder‑level ownership. If you can bring a diverse point of view, push it forward: it will be highly appreciated.

Job Summary

We've proven the technology. Now we need to build the company that turns it into an industrial and commercial reality. As Chief Operating Officer , you will take full ownership of HyLight's operations, with a cross‑functional scope spanning production, quality, structuring and execution . Reporting directly to the CEO and co‑founder, you'll be the operational backbone that lets HyLight scale from first contracts to global leader. This is a high‑responsibility position that touches every team in the company. It's a builder's role for someone who has scaled a hardware/deeptech company before and who thrives when the pace is high and the stakes are real.

A Note from Martin (CEO & Co‑founder): "We have an extraordinary challenge ahead: turning a one‑of‑a‑kind aircraft into a product we can manufacture, certify and operate at scale. That demands a rare operator—someone with the rigor to build robust production and quality systems, and the pragmatism to be on the ground, on the airbase, solving problems with the team. If you want to build the industrial engine of a category‑defining company, this is the seat."

The Mission

Working hand‑in‑hand with the founding team, your responsibilities will include:

Production & Industrialization

• Lead the transition from prototype to serial production: industrialization roadmap, manufacturing ramp‑up and production planning.
• Build and optimize the supply chain, supplier qualification and procurement.
• Scale assembly, integration and test processes for a complex new type of aircraft.

Quality & Compliance

• Establish a robust quality system fit for a regulated aerospace environment.
• Drive certification and regulatory readiness alongside the Technical and Regulatory teams.
• Embed a culture of safety, reliability and continuous improvement on the shop floor.

Structuring & Organization

• Build the operational backbone of the company: processes, tools, KPIs and governance.
• Recruit, structure and develop high‑performing operational teams.
• Put in place the rituals and reporting that keep a fast‑growing company aligned and accountable.

Execution & Cross‑functional Leadership

• Translate strategy into operational priorities and deliver against ambitious milestones.
• Coordinate across engineering, product, commercial, regulatory and finance for end‑to‑end delivery.
• Be the CEO's right hand on day‑to‑day execution and a steady hand under pressure.

Profile Sought

The following list is aspirational—while you may not perfectly fit the profile, we highly value ownership, drive and personal growth.

• Experience: A senior operator (COO, VP Operations, Industrial Director or equivalent) with a track record of scaling a hardware/deeptech company—aerospace, drones, robotics, space, automotive, medical devices or comparable.
• Heritage: You have taken a physical product from prototype to serial production at scale, and built the operations around it.
• Domain depth: Strong command of industrialization, production, quality and supply chain for complex hardware in a regulated environment.
• Education: Engineering background (grande école or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Mindset: Entrepreneurial and hands‑on—methodical but enterprising, comfortable wearing many hats, building from scratch, and being in the field as much as in the boardroom.

Soft Skills

• Founder mentality: Extreme ownership, fast decision‑making, natural problem‑solving.
• Project management: Ability to define, track and adapt milestones independently.
• Leadership: A builder of teams and trust who stays calm and clear under pressure.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with internal staff and external partners.

Languages

• English (fluent—internal communication and documentation)
• French (fluent)

Why You Should Join

• Ground floor opportunity: Build and own the operational engine of a revolutionary company, backed by top‑tier investors.
• Founder mentality: A real seat at the table with the founding team on company strategy.
• Impact & speed: A fast‑paced environment where your work has immediate, tangible effects—on the company and on the climate.
• Environment: An international team and beautiful offices, lab and warehouse on a former airbase.

Interview Process

• Introductory call with the CEO
• Deep‑dive interview on operations and industrial experience
• Case study / working session with the team
• Reference calls
• On‑site meeting with the team at Base 217

Location

Office, lab and warehouse at Base 217, Brétigny‑sur‑Orge (accessible via RER C). You'll work side‑by‑side with experts in embedded, aerospace and hydrogen propulsion systems—where your impact matters from day one.