AIT Optical Systems Engineer

Location: Bristol, United Kingdom

A Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a global space manufacturer delivering, for more than 40 years, high-tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Thanks to our diversity of skills, talents and cultures, our customers (governments, institutions, space agencies, telecommunications operators), therefore have Space to Connect, Secure & Defend, Observe & Protect, Explore, Travel & Navigate.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Primary Purpose of Role

The Thales Alenia Space UK Systems Department’s activities cover the development of novel opti-cal systems and components, throughout all project phases. As an AIT Optical Engineer you will con-tribute to the design, development, verification test of optical instrument and verification of space optical instruments and will manage the system engineering activities during the assembly, integration and testing phase.

As AIT Optical System Engineer the you will perform the AIT system engineering activities for optical instruments.  Your responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring safety conditions of the optical laboratory facilities are met

• Measuring the performance on ground (radiometric, interferometric, geometric, spectral, polarization, etc,..measures): optical quality of instruments, characterization of detectors and of the image chain, the quality of the instrument images after the integration of the detectors

• Supporting the procurement and the assembly of test benches, to be validates experimentally

• Being responsible for the selection of the methods, writing the associated procedures and instructions, the management of technical risks associated with the activity

• Performing tests on flight hardware and the follow up actions

• Contributing to project technical and management reviews associated with System Engineering, including writing/contributing to/reviewing documents, contributing to Risks Identification and Management and presenting to customers

• Contribute to suppliers and subcontractors management, writing specifications, reviewing deliverables, supporting the technical activities

• Contributing to bids for optical instruments, analyzing requirements, writing deliverables, preparing estimates for optical system AIT activities

• Perform ad-hoc additional duties that arise from time to time and are consistent with the nature of this position

at all levels:

• Components: detectors, mirrors, lenses

• Subsystems: focal planes, detection subsystems, optical equipment (telescopes or others)

• System: instrument and satellite

ensuring:

• The preparation of the documentation needed to prepare and perform the AIT phases

• The delivery on time and according to the budget of conforming instruments

• The continuous improvement based on root cause analysis, problem solving, new practice deployment and contribution to the adoption of new technologies.

In addition, the engineer will support:

• Support system / subsystem trade-offs where necessary

• Internal ad-hoc reviews, audits, appraisals

• Discussion with customers, suppliers and subcontractors on technical issues

• Dissemination of the results of the activities performed, contributing to the transfer of knowledge within the company

• Mentoring and training on the job of colleagues

• Other engineering activities for TAS projects and products, according to the workload.

Key Performance Indicators (not an exhaustive list)

• Work Package / Project and Engineering Efficiency measures, including cost, quality and schedule

• On time preparation of bids datapacks and estimates, as required

• Internal and External customer satisfaction

Principal Relationships

Your main relationships will be with the following:

Internal Relationships

• Department Team members

• Projects and Bids Team Members

• Head of Discipline, Head of Engineering and Head of Engineering Operations

• Department Managers

• HR Business partners and shared services

• Chief Technical Officer and Design Authorities

• TAS departments such as Quality, Supply Chain and Purchasing, Bid & Project Management

• Engineering stakeholders within the wider TAS organization

• Internal auditors/assessors.

External relationships

• Customer project team – Agencies, MoD and commercial

• PDAs and CTO

• UK and European Space Agency (and other institutional customers) technical experts

• Suppliers of hardware, software, design, manufacturing services

• Third party auditors.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

The candidate has ideally more than 5  years of experience in AIT optical engineering activities and a demonstrable positive performance record in the following activities:

• Experience with alignment and calibration activities

• Ideally, working knowledge of European Space Agency and/or UK MoD system engineering requirements

• Communication and influencing skills to build productive relationships at all levels of the business

• Able to work independently and as part of a team, managing priorities

The job holder would be expected  to:

• Be educated to master degree level in a relevant discipline (Optical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Physics or related disciplies).

• A professional qualification from an engineering institution is desirable

• Hold Security Clearance or ability to obtain it.

Behaviours

Demonstrates role-model behaviours in accordance with the company’s Leadership Model;

• Imagine the Future

• Inspire to Engage

• Deliver User-Centric Solutions

• Act with Agility

• Grows Others & Self

• Includes Others

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!