About Arkeus

Arkeus is a world leader in the provision of wide-area autonomous optical search systems in the Search, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance space for Defence, Civil Defence and Environmental Sustainment applications. We specialise in the design, fabrication, manufacture and distribution of these innovative systems.

Backed by the billion-dollar deep-tech and industry expert investors Main Sequence, Beaten Zone Venture Partners, and Salus Ventures we are scaling the deployment of our next-generation hardware-enabled software platform to help our customers improve security and save lives.

We are a small yet fast-growing company with energy, passion and ambition. Our inclusive, transparent and merit-based culture focuses on building a diverse and capable workforce - one that attracts skilled individuals who share our purpose and values.

About the role:  

Arkeus is seeking a Supply Chain Manager to build and scale our end-to-end supply function as we enter the next phase of growth. 

This is a foundational leadership role where you will establish Arkeus’ supply capability from the ground up, defining supplier strategy, systems, processes and operational infrastructure to support our transition from prototype to scaled production. 

You will build a scalable, compliant and resilient supply function aligned to Defence requirements, enabling production readiness, delivery reliability and future international expansion. 

Reporting to the VP of Manufacturing, you will play a key role in shaping how supply operates at Arkeus and partner closely with Engineering and Manufacturing to support growth.

Key responsibilities: 

• Define and execute supply and sourcing strategy across critical and long-lead components.  
• Build and scale a high-performing supplier network aligned to sovereign capability requirements. 
• Establish and manage BOM governance, inventory strategy and production planning.  
• Implement supplier performance frameworks across quality, delivery, cost and risk.  
• Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing to support design-for-manufacture, supply continuity and lifecycle management.  
• Enable supply readiness for new product introduction and surge manufacturing.
• Manage sole-source and long-lead component risk, including mitigation strategies, buffer planning and supplier development to protect production continuity.
• Ensure supply chain compliance with ITAR, Global Trade Controls and Australian sovereign capability requirements, embedding regulatory awareness across sourcing decisions.

About you: 

• You are a strategic and hands-on supply leader who has built or scaled supply capability in complex, hardware-led environments. 
• You thrive in scale-up settings where supply is informal when you arrive and structured, compliant and scaling when you leave. You bring founder-like supply chain instincts and are comfortable operating without a fully formed team beneath you, knowing when to be strategic and when to roll your sleeves up. 
• You are comfortable working across all levels of the business, influencing stakeholders and translating technical and operational requirements into practical, scalable solutions. 
• You bring a pragmatic, solutions-focused mindset and operate with a strong sense of ownership and accountability. 
• Experience in Defence, aerospace or other highly regulated industries is strongly preferred.

Your experience and skills: 

• Proven experience in senior supply or manufacturing leadership roles within hardware-led organisations.  
• Track record of building or scaling end-to-end supply chains in start-up/scale-up environments.  
• Strong understanding of regulated industries such as Defence, aerospace or medical devices.  
• Experience with production planning, inventory management and operational governance.  
• Demonstrated capability in supply chain strategy, industrialisation and manufacturing scale-up.
• Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams in high-growth, high-change environments.
• Familiarity with supplier qualification frameworks such as APQP, PPAP, AS9100D or equivalent regulated industry standards.
• Working knowledge of ITAR, Global Trade Controls or Australian sovereign capability considerations within a defence or aerospace supply environment.
• Experience managing sole-source and long-lead components in a production environment where supply failure has direct contractual or delivery consequences.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Defence security clearance.

What we offer:  

• We make incredible things – you will be working in a company at the forefront of innovation in Australia.  
• You will collaborate with experienced leaders, with backgrounds in aerospace, Defence and academic research and development – and just as much passion and energy as you have.    
• You will become a part of a close-knit, inclusive, and connected team, immersed in a dynamic startup culture. We focus on recruiting the best – this is the opportunity to surround yourself with other like-minded professionals who enjoy working in an environment where we are inspired by the passion and capability of the very people we work with.  
• You will benefit from workplace flexibility and work-life balance.   
• You have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor with our Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP).
• We will give you the chance to make a real difference.  

If you've built supply chains that didn't exist before and you're ready to do it again for a mission that genuinely matters, we'd love to hear from you!