IRIS² Senior/Programme Test Manager

Eutelsat; Toulouse; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Eutelsat seeks an accomplished Senior Programme Test & IVV Manager to lead end-to-end assurance for the IRIS2 programme. You will define and drive the integration, verification, validation and progressive acceptance strategy across a complex satellite ecosystem, working with ESA, regulatory bodies and partners.

You will establish governance, laboratories and evidence bases to support confident acceptance decisions, aligning suppliers to common standards and building a multidisciplinary IVV

Qualifications

• Significant programme-level leadership in IVV/test and integration on complex systems.
• Proven ability to define end-to-end test and acceptance strategies across multiple vendors.
• Experience with ESA/regulatory bodies or comparable international institutions is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own programme-level IVV, integration, test and acceptance strategy with executable assurance approach.
• Establish IVV operating model, governance forums, quality gates and acceptance authorities.
• Define progressive acceptance pathway from component testing to full service readiness.
• Create capability-based integration increments using simulators, emulators and digital twins.
• Set entry/exit criteria with traceability from requirements to evidence and decisions.
• Lead assurance across space, ground, network and security domains; ensure credible evidence.

Skills

IVV leadership

Systems integration

Stakeholder communication

Risk management

Python/SQL scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Master's degree in related field

Tools

Linux

VMware

Cloud (AWS/Azure)

Job description

Be part of a new era in communications, transforming connectivity with Eutelsat – the world’s first GEO-LEO integrated global satellite operator.

As a leader in satellite communications, we provide global connectivity solutions - connecting businesses, communities, and governments around the world. We can connect you at on land, at sea and in the air. We also deliver broadcast television channels and packages, transmitting vital news reports around the world.

With Eutelsat You’ll Get To:

• Pioneer the future of Space Technology
• Bring connectivity to remote frontiers
• Collaborate with customer-centric experts
• Embrace cultural diversity in our global team

In a dynamic industry where passion drives our teams to make a difference to become the most trusted partner for global satellite connectivity, you will elevate your skills in a stretching, rewarding, and meaningful environment. At Eutelsat, we’re united by inclusion and diversity, striving for gender balance and social responsibility, on Earth and in Space.

Why Eutelsat ?

• Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: With colleagues from over 75 countries, we embrace our global DNA and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We are proud that one-third of our executive team and 60% of our board are represented by women.
• Ways of Working That Drive Us: As \"One Team,\" we work collaboratively towards shared goals, with customer‑centricity, respect, and inclusivity as our guiding principles.
• Sustainability at Our Core: At Eutelsat, sustainability is more than just a word; it’s woven into our strategy. We’re dedicated to balancing social, environmental, and economic growth — both on Earth and in space.
• Work-Life Balance: We offer flexible schedules and hybrid work options to help you balance your personal and professional life. At Eutelsat, we are committed to supporting your well-being and ensuring you have the flexibility you need to succeed both at work and at home.

Job Overview

We are looking for an accomplished Senior Programme Test & Integration Verification and Validation (IVV) Manager to lead end‑to‑end assurance for the IRIS2 programme. You will define and drive the integration, verification, validation and progressive acceptance strategy across a complex multi‑vendor satellite communications ecosystem. Working with programme leadership, suppliers, system integrators, ESA, regulatory bodies and institutional partners, you will ensure that capability is tested objectively and incrementally as it becomes available - not deferred to a single late‑stage end‑to‑end campaign. You will also establish the governance, teams, laboratories and evidence base required to support confident acceptance decisions.

Who You Are:

• A strategic test and IVV leader who can operate at executive level while retaining the technical depth to challenge architects, engineers and suppliers.
• An independent, evidence‑led decision‑maker, comfortable presenting system readiness, residual risk and difficult recommendations to senior boards and external authorities.
• A systems thinker who creates clarity across complex technical, organisational, commercial and regulatory boundaries.
• A collaborative leader who builds trusted relationships without compromising the objectivity or authority of the IVV function.
• Proactive in identifying integration risk early and pragmatic in balancing engineering rigour, programme pace and commercial realities.

What You’ll Do:

• Own programme‑level IVV, integration, test and acceptance strategy, translating mission, service, contractual and regulatory requirements into an executable assurance approach.
• Establish the IVV operating model, governance forums, quality gates, escalation routes, decision rights and acceptance authorities, maintaining appropriate independence from delivery organisations.
• Define a progressive acceptance pathway from component and subsystem testing through segment integration, cross‑segment validation, service readiness and full E2E acceptance.
• Create capability based integration increments and minimum viable test configurations, using simulators, emulators, stubs, reference implementations and digital twins to retire priority risks before all production elements are available.
• Set clear entry, exit and acceptance criteria, with traceability from requirements and operational scenarios through evidence, defects, limitations, risks and acceptance decisions.
• Lead assurance across the complete service chain, including space, ground, network, security, service management, operations and user‑terminal domains, covering functional and non‑functional performance.
• Align suppliers and partners to common test standards, readiness criteria, evidence requirements and reporting conventions; identify coverage gaps and hold delivery organisations accountable for credible evidence.
• Drive resolution of cross‑supplier defects and interface issues where technical or contractual ownership is unclear, working closely with systems engineering, architecture, security, operations, commercial and procurement teams.
• Define and establish the programme integration laboratory, representative test environments and test‑data roadmap, combining physical equipment with simulation, automation, observability, telemetry and results analytics.
• Maintain the integrated test and acceptance plan, dependencies, resources, executive metrics and readiness reporting, and provide objective recommendations on whether the integrated capability is fit for operational use.
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary IVV organisation spanning internal teams, specialist partners and supplier resources, creating a culture of transparency, collaboration and engineering discipline.

What You’ll Need:

• Significant programme‑level leadership experience in testing, IVV, system integration or acceptance on a complex system‑of‑systems.
• A strong track record on large‑scale, mission‑critical, safety‑critical or nationally significant infrastructure programmes.
• Proven experience defining end‑to‑end test and acceptance strategies, including progressive integration of capabilities delivered at different times by multiple organisations.
• Experience of complex multi‑vendor delivery and of assessing whether supplier strategies and evidence are sufficient for programme acceptance.
• Experience working with ESA, regulatory bodies, government organisations or comparable international institutions, and presenting to executive decision‑makers.
• Practical experience establishing integration laboratories, representative test environments or assurance capabilities from the ground up.
• Strong knowledge of systems‑engineering lifecycles, requirements management, verification, validation, configuration control, governance and risk management.
• Relevant professional accreditation or membership would be advantageous.

Technical Skills

• Bachelors degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Science, Physics or Maths. Masters degree preferred.
• Professional experience in systems engineering, telecommunications, satellite communications, electronics, software engineering or a related discipline.
• Technical experience in one or more of: LEO/MEO/GEO systems; 5G/NTN or 4G/LTE; user terminals; satellite ground systems; IP networks; RF; service platforms; resilience, security or test automation.
• Working ability to script in Python and SQL, Bash, Perl or similar languages.
• Excellent understanding of IP networking, RF engineering, 4G/LTE, QoS. 5G experience strongly preferred.
• 10+ years experience preferred with LEO/MEO/GEO satellite systems, their CONOPS and systems performance variables and their optimization.
• Experience with Linux, VMWare, AWS/Azure or other cloud providers.
• Experience in leading E2E test automation, framework design and implementation

Where You’ll Work:

Toulouse or Paris or Torino, with travel required between Eutelsat, supplier and partner sites.

Candidate must be an EU27 citizen, which is a requirement for this role.

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