VHR Program Manager

Aerospacelab; Luik; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AMOS, located in Liège, seeks a VHR Program Manager to lead the Very High Resolution optical payload line and supervise the payload team. You will arbitrate customer requests, define configurations, and manage budget, lead times and milestones for multi-million-euro programmes.

You bring 10+ years in space or optical instrument programs, a strong background in optical systems, and proven product and project management. Fluency in English is required; French is a plus.

Qualifications

• Master or PhD in Engineering or Physics.
• At least 10 years in space or optical instrument programs.
• Solid technical background in optical instruments; able to challenge performance budgets.
• Proven product management experience: roadmap, configurations, recurring cost, lead times.
• Product-oriented; prefer recurrence over tailoring and know when to break that rule.
• Proven experience in project management and coordination of multidisciplinary teams.
• Manage schedule, budget and risks on multi-million-euro programmes.
• Familiar with ECSS standards and space project review logic.
• Decide with incomplete data; explain and defend commitments to customers and management.
• Rigorous, reliable, good writing skills; natural leader; team player.
• Fluent in English; French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Own the VHR product line roadmap, configurations, costs and lead times.
• Drive the modular approach; define building blocks, options and recurrence limits.
• Arbitrate between customer requests and the standard product; decide tailoring.
• Coordinate the VHR payload team: priorities, workload, staffing, development.
• Manage the program: schedule, budget, risks, milestones.
• Drive industrialization: make-or-buy, supply chain, cost reduction, ramp-up.
• Prepare proposals: configuration, cost, lead time, commitments.
• Manage VHR projects from kick-off to delivery: scope, schedule, cost, commitments.
• Monitor delivered products: image quality, non-conformances, feedback.
• Feed learning back into the product line and roadmap with architects and development.

Skills

Product management

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Budget & schedule management

Decision making with incomplete data

Technical writing

English fluency

French language (asset)

ECSS standards

Education

Master or PhD in Engineering or Physics

Tools

ECSS standards

Job description

About AMOS

Located in Liège, AMOS (Advanced Mechanical & Optical Systems) is a company specialized in the development of ultra-high opto-mechanical systems, mostly dedicated to space industry and professional astronomy. AMOS is now part of the Aerospacelab group, a Belgian satellite manufacturer. Within the group, AMOS develops Very High Resolution (VHR) optical payloads of Earth observation satellites.

Since 1983, AMOS has been a recognized player around the world. AMOS works with prestigious international clients and partners. More than 100 passionate employees put their expertise at the service of the development of innovative solutions, while respecting the values of the company:

• Team spirit, to unite individual strengths and assets to achieve collective success;
• Excellence, through the commitment and quality of everyone’s work;
• Respect, through recognition by listening, openness and consideration, whether colleague, partner, or client.

In order to strengthen its teams, AMOS is looking for a « VHR Program Manager » (H/F).

Main responsibilities

As VHR Program Manager, you own our Very High Resolution (VHR) product line. You lead the VHR payload team. The product line is built on a modular approach: a set of recurring building blocks, configured mission after mission. Your job is to make that approach work — technically, commercially and industrially. You arbitrate every day between what the customer asks and what the product line can absorb. In particular, you will be responsible for

• Owning the VHR product line: roadmap, product configurations, performance range, cost and lead-time targets.
• Driving the modular approach. Defining the building blocks, the options, and the limits of recurrence.
• Arbitrating between customer requests and the standard product. Deciding what is tailored and what stays recurrent.
• Coordinating the VHR payload team: priorities, workload, staffing, competence development.
• Managing the program: schedule, budget, risks, margins, milestones.
• Driving the industrialization: make-or-buy, supply chain, recurring cost reduction, production ramp-up.
• Preparing the proposals: product configuration, cost, lead time, technical and contractual commitments.
• Managing VHR projects sold to the customers, from kick-off to delivery: scope, schedule, cost and contractual commitments.
• Monitoring the delivered products: image quality, non-conformances, return of experience.
• Feeding back into the product line what each project reveals.
• Feeding the evolution roadmap, together with the Optical Payload Architect and Technology Development.
• Reporting the status and the health of the VHR product line to the management.

Requirements

• Master or PhD in Engineering or Physics.
• At least 10 years in space or optical instrument programs.
• Solid technical background in optical instruments. You read a performance budget and you challenge it.
• Proven product management experience: roadmap, configuration management, recurring cost, lead time.
• You are product-oriented. You favour recurrence over tailoring, and you know when to break that rule.
• Proven experience in project management and coordination of multidisciplinary teams.
• You manage schedule, budget and risks on multi-million-euro programmes.
• Familiar with ECSS standards and with the space project review logic.
• You decide with incomplete data.
• You explain and defend a commitment in front of customers and management.
• Rigorous, reliable, good writing skills.
• Natural leader. Team player.
• Fluent in English. French is an asset.

Soft skills: Autonomous / Rigorous / Proactive / Flexible / Result-oriented