Optical Systems Functional Manager

The Optical Team is seeking a dynamic and motivated technical manager to help deliver current and future Optical Payloads. Responsible for both the leadership and management of the Optical Systems contributing to future developments, concepts, and delivery of existing projects.

This role has a good blend of technical, management and strategic development, and requires close working with the other Optical Payload Teams (Optical Mechanical, Optical AIV & Imaging Electronics) as well as across wider Engineering and Projects to ensure overall product quality, delivery and resource management from bid phase through to in-orbit operation phase.

Key Tasks

• Line manage Optical Systems engineers within the team (includes all line management activities throughout the employee life cycle including recruitment, performance, development & mentoring, wellbeing)

Ensure there is a clear understanding of the skillsets, capability, and resourcing required to deliver the project work, current and future

• Ensure that the team’s current and forward planning of workload is fully scoped and managed through the resource planning tool. Proactively resolve issues such as resource limitations, potential resource clashes and also identify skill gaps for future recruitment activities

Responsible for ensuring engineers are following the correct design, build and test in accordance with SSTL engineering processes and guidelines and the defined needs/requirements

Mentor and support the team to ensure they have the technical capabilities/skills to deliver to the required quality

Support the team to ensure that they understand the processes and working practices, and are applying them correctly in the project delivery

Measure the effectiveness of our engineering processes and working practices, continuously identifying and implementing improvements where required

• Ensure effective plans are in place to deliver all work and work packages, to the appropriate quality level, within project budget and schedule constraints

Ensure our engineering processes and working practices are appropriately documented and communicated across all functions and projects

Ensure peer reviews are in place across our project work and constantly monitored

• Review of the teams technical work ensuring expected standards are met and consistency of technical output for all projects
• System level design of space and ground segments including requirements analysis, sensitivity analysis, mission analysis and design trade-offs
• Perform cost, risk, schedule and performance trades

Work with the product owners to develop and deliver a strategic roadmap for Optical Payload products that aligns with the wider company strategy

• Provide input into the strategy for future Optical payloads in line with future business roadmaps and innovation strategy

• Work with the Sales and Engineering teams in support of bid / tender activities / technical studies to generate technical solutions for a variety of customers

• Build relationships and work closely with the Project Manager’s, Heads of Engineering and other department Managers

• Keep abreast of your area of expertise in the engineering community both within, and as important, outside of the space sector. Be able to identify the benefits of technology to the products and services that SSTL is pursuing

• Ensure team level policies and procedures are in place to allow consistent and coherent team output, in line with SSTL approach to Engineering

• Ensure the team has the skills required to deliver current & future projects in line with the business plan and there is a viable plan in place to retain & develop team members with a particular view to succession planning and single point failures

Qualifications Knowledge & Skills

Degree level or equivalent in Physics or Engineering

Proven track record in Optical engineering

The ability to review and critique space optical instruments, balancing technical requirements with programmatic and budget constraints

Knowledge and experience in handling Optical instrumentation, telescopes, spectrometers, focal plane assemblies

• Excellent people management skills, able to motivate in a team-oriented, collaborative environment and lead the team

Good team player; able to work in close-knit teams with other sub-systems through the design, analysis, test and manufacture

• Ability to think and operate in a forward looking and strategic manner, as well as ability to deal with day-to-day problems

Be able to communicate clearly and effectively, and influence and persuade other people

• Well organised; good understanding of project/time management skills, able to resolve conflicting priorities and demands within a pressurised environment

• Desire to support and guide others

Ability to plan and manage own work

• Ability to delegate work and empower team members if needed

Demonstrate flexibility to be able to change plans and priorities based on changing project and market needs

Results focused; able to take responsibility and commitment to deliver

• Pro-active and flexible with a can-do attitude

• Proficient in all MS Office packages and knowledge of Microsoft Project.

• Ability to interface with customers and technical representatives

Location

SSTL prides itself on being a super flexible company. The role is based in our Head Office in Guildford, but we fully support hybrid working and a range of flexible working options.