Production Supervisor Location: Brisbane (Wacol), Queensland
Reports to: Sr Director Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Direct reports: 8 to 14 approx.
Employment type: Full-time, on-site Our Mission: To Be Bold and Impactful Emesent is a world leader in drone autonomy, LiDAR mapping, and data analytics. Our vision is to autonomously map the inaccessible. Founded in 2018, with deep connections to Australia's globally recognised CSIRO, we have established ourselves worldwide with a reputation for delivering high-quality data capture in the mining, infrastructure, survey, and mapping industries. Our team of 100+ roboticists, engineers, and business development experts work side-by-side to deliver revolutionary efficiency, safety, and operational insights to our customers. Our flagship product, Hovermap, is a smart mobile scanning unit that combines advanced collision avoidance and autonomous flight technologies to map hazardous and GPS-denied environments. Its award-winning technology utilises innovative hardware, advanced algorithms, and machine learning to automate the collection and analysis of the physical world. Equally capable above ground or underground, indoors, or out, Hovermap is a complete mobile LiDAR mapping solution. Hovermap is uniquely versatile, it can be backpack, drone, or vehicle-mounted to map challenging, inaccessible areas, enabling our customers to gain insights that were not possible before. With multiple applications across several industries and a rapidly growing customer base, Hovermap and our other solutions are being used commercially for various applications by enterprise customers around the world. The Opportunity:
The Production Supervisor owns daily output on the Brisbane production floor. You lead the team that builds Hovermap ST-X and GX1 units, and you are accountable for shipping what we promise, to the quality our clients expect, safely.
We are scaling GX1 production. Speed without discipline cost us before. This role delivers both. Key Accountabilities 1. Output and delivery
Deliver the monthly build plan against remaining-to-ship units.
Run daily production scheduling, line balancing and resource allocation.
Report builds progress, bottlenecks and risks to the Sr Director daily and escalate material shortfalls the same day.
Hold the carry-forward position accurate and visible at all times. 2. Quality
Ensure every unit passes defined build, test and calibration standards before release.
Work with the Quality team to close non-conformances and drive root cause fixes.
Own first-pass yield and rework rates for the floor. Targets are set with the Sr Director in the first 60 days.
Enforce build documentation, traceability and serial number records. 3. Safety
Own site safety performance for the production area.
Run toolbox talks, hazard reporting and incident investigations.
Ensure compliance with WHS requirements, ESD controls and electronics handling standards.
Zero tolerance for unsafe shortcuts. 4. Materials and supply chain interface
Work with Planning and Supply Chain to confirm kit readiness ahead of each build.
Flag component shortages early, including camera and mechanical part constraints, with a named impact and date.
Control WIP, stock accuracy on the floor and cycle count discipline.
Support supplier quality issues with clear data on defects and yield. 5. People and capability
Lead, coach and hold accountable a team of production technicians.
Own rosters, leave coverage, overtime within budget and onboarding of new starters.
Build a cross-trained team. No single point of failure on any build station.
Deliver performance conversations, probation reviews and recognition on time.
Build a culture of ownership, pace and care. 6. Process and continuous improvement
Standardise work instructions and keep them current as designs change.
Identify and remove waste in cycle time, handling and rework.
Partner with Engineering on design for manufacture feedback and engineering change implementation.
Support the transition from prototype-style builds to repeatable, scalable production. 7. Reporting and governance
Provide accurate weekly production metrics: units built, units shipped, yield, rework, labour hours and safety.
Maintain compliance with company quality, export and audit requirements.
Contribute to due diligence and audit readiness as required. 8. Measures of Success
Build plan attainment each month
First-pass yield and rework rate
Safety incidents and near-miss reporting rate
On-time kit readiness and build start
Team engagement, retention and cross-training coverage
Accuracy of production reporting and carry-forward position Qualifications and Experience
Essential
5+ years in electronics, robotics, aerospace, defence or precision hardware manufacturing
2+ years supervising a production team
Proven record delivering build plans in a constrained supply environment
Working knowledge of quality systems, traceability and WHS
Clear, direct communicator who escalates early Desirable
ISO 9001 or AS9100 environment experience
Lean or continuous improvement training
Experience with ERP and MRP systems
Experience scaling a product from low volume to repeatable production Capabilities
Decisive under pressure
Data-led, with plans tied to dates and owners
Hands-on and visible on the floor
Raises problems early and brings a proposed fix
Holds standards firmly and treats people fairly The Added Perks 9-day fortnight – every second Friday off Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP) – share in Emesent's success Work alongside a passionate and collaborative team building world-leading technology Genuine learning and development opportunities including LinkedIn Learning access Employee Assistance Program One additional day of leave each year for your work anniversary Novated lease options Why Emesent? At Emesent, you'll work on technology that is genuinely shaping the future of how industries capture and understand the physical world. We offer a dynamic, collaborative environment, competitive compensation, and real opportunities for professional growth. Join us in pushing the boundaries of robotics and spatial intelligence.