Chief Operating Officer Greater Melbourne, Australia Area

MAKO is solving one of aviation’s hardest engineering problems. Following a strong Series A, we are hiring a COO to serve as the operational co-pilot to the CEO. Scaling deep tech requires more than breakthrough physics and manufacturing - it demands operational rigour, capital discipline, and strategic clarity. We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer to turn ambition into disciplined, scalable execution. You will report to the CEO and be responsible for the Manufacturing and Business Operations, Facilities, and Safety. Key Responsibilities Manufacturing Strategy & Industrialisation: Define and execute MAKO’s manufacturing and industrialisation strategy, ensuring operational capability scales in line with certification, customer demand, and global deployment Global Operations and Delivery: Lead the deployment and installation of Flightfilm for global customers and partners, ensuring seamless field execution, quality control, and schedule adherence. Customer Success: Drive customer adoption and retention by executing seamless product rollouts and maintenance integration that results in ongoing product demand Regulatory & Compliance Leadership: Lead MAKO to obtain and maintain production authorisation from relevant aviation regulatory bodies, acting as the executive interface for audits and ensuring ongoing regulatory compliance Organisation & Leadership: Build and lead MAKO’s manufacturing organisation across production, quality, procurement, and installation & technical services, developing leaders and embedding clear ownership and accountability Supply Chain & Operational Resilience: Develop supply chain and operational frameworks to ensure continuity of conforming materials, installation quality, and reliable delivery at scale What Success Looks Like First Month: You will focus on integration and alignment by establishing trust and strong working relationships across the internal leadership team and key external customer partners. You will also develop a deep understanding of our overarching company strategy, mission, and long-term vision. You will develop a clear understanding of MAKO’s operational processes including Quality, Production, Supply Chain and Installation. You will establish clarity of ownership across these functions, and align the business on the priorities required to support certification and initial deliveries. First 6 Months: You will have designed and implemented a comprehensive global strategy for product manufacturing, rollout and installation, detailing the required resource allocation, team structure, and cost projections. You will have completed our first initial aircraft installation(s) with a launch partner while also articulating a clear, actionable maintenance and customer support strategy to support that implementation. First 12 Months: Within the first year, you will have successfully delivered and integrated our first 10 aircraft into customer partner fleets worldwide, establishing a scalable standard for future operations and long-term growth. About You Tertiary qualification in business, finance, engineering or a related field; MBA or equivalent desirable 10+ years in senior operational leadership, including at executive level in a high-growth or venture-backed company Experience scaling operations and teams through a growth stage, ideally in advanced manufacturing, aerospace or deep tech Track record in financial planning, budgeting and capital raising, and working with boards and investors Strong commercial and analytical skills; confident building operating plans, forecasts and performance reporting Why You Should Join MAKO Problems worth solving Aviation has a burning fuel problem. The sector burns US$261 billion worth of fuel and emits a billion tonnes of CO2 in the process, yet the necessary decarbonisation technology levers are decades away, and emissions will continue to grow. MAKO’s mission is to improve the efficiency of the global aviation fleet by delivering emissions reduction without the associated ‘green premium’. What we offer is comparable to new jet engines, but invisible and 100x cheaper. We will make every plane burn less fuel, fly further, faster, and carry more. MAKO is vertically integrated, meaning we design and develop our product, manufacture it, define the application methodology, and handle support. That means the work you do here goes directly into a product on a real aircraft. Technology worth mastering Our vertically integrated structure allows us to break down silos between teams, exposing each and every MAKO team member to expertise and developments in materials science, optics, fluid dynamics, and scale manufacturing. Values worth holding The MAKO team collectively enacts our Values of ‘Lift over Drag’, ‘Active Transparency’, and ‘Change the Boundary Conditions’. These are not corporate platitudes – at MAKO, you’ll see firsthand how our Values drive decision-making, unblock communications, and provide clarity in ambiguous situations, helping us to outperform industry incumbents many times our size. Benefits worth realizing We offer flexible working arrangements so you can balance your work with your life outside the office. Our Sydenham offices boast an attractive location next to public transport and within a short walk to food and dining options. Each month, the team gets together for activities and social events, which helps us stay connected as we grow. You will also have access to our Employee Benefit Program and our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which gives you and your family free, confidential support when you need it. Application Process Our process includes a screening call, an interview with the hiring manager, a short take-home case study and overview session, and a final panel interview with our leadership team. We aim to move from application to offer within four to five weeks, and we’ll keep you updated at every stage. MAKO is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from every background. Careers rarely fly a direct route, so if you're close but not a perfect match, apply and tell us why.