Prototyping and Testing Manager

About the Role

Prototyping and Testing doesn't exist yet as a department at X Shore — there's an empty warehouse and a mandate to build everything from the ground up. We're looking for a Manager to own that build, start to finish: work with building contractors to construct the mechanical workshop, electrical workshop, station build areas, and storage, then recruit and lead the prototyping and test engineering teams who'll work in it.

This is a hands-on, founding role. You'll be as involved in walking the warehouse floor with contractors and deciding where the electrical workshop goes as you will be interviewing your first engineering hires. There is no existing department, no established process, and no playbook — you're writing it. You'll report to the Head of R&D and be full-time on-site in Nyköping.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end build-out of X Shore's prototyping and test space, working directly with building contractors to construct the mechanical workshop, electrical workshop, station build areas, storage, and supporting infrastructure

• Define layout, equipment, and tooling needs for a fully functional prototyping and test facility

• Recruit, hire, and build the prototyping and test engineering teams from the ground up

• Establish working processes, safety practices, and standards for a brand-new department

• Manage budget and timeline for the physical build-out

• Partner with R&D, production, and engineering leadership to ensure the space and team support X Shore's development needs

• Lead day-to-day operations of prototyping and test once the space and team are in place

• Act as the hands-on point of contact for contractors, vendors, and suppliers throughout construction

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience building or substantially standing up a prototyping, test, or workshop facility from scratch

• Experience managing building contractors and physical construction or fit-out projects

• Experience hiring and building a technical team from the ground up

• Background in mechanical or electrical prototyping, workshop operations, or test engineering

• Fluent Swedish and English — this is a must

• Genuine boating enthusiast, professionally and/or privately, ideally both — this is a must

• Full-time, on-site in Nyköping — this is a must

• Comfortable operating hands-on in a construction and startup environment with few established processes

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in marine, automotive, or another complex hardware industry

• Background spanning both mechanical and electrical workshop environments

• Experience setting up test rigs or validation facilities

• Project management experience for facility build-outs

Personal Qualities

Hands-on and genuinely energized by building something from an empty room rather than inheriting one. A strong people leader who can attract and develop a team before there's a department for them to join. Pragmatic and resourceful — equally comfortable discussing wall placement with a contractor and interviewing a test engineer. Takes ownership and drives things to completion without waiting for process to catch up.

Success Metrics (First 12 Months)

• Prototyping and test space — mechanical workshop, electrical workshop, station build areas, storage — is built out and operational

• Core prototyping and test engineering team is hired and functioning

• Department has working processes and safety practices in place

• X Shore's development programs have a functioning prototyping and test capability to rely on

Location & Structure

Full-time, on-site in Nyköping. Reports to the Head of R&D.