IVVQ Operational Lead (Submarines)

Thales; Cheadle; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in Cheadle, UK seeks an operational lead for underwater sensor systems. This role involves assessing submarine sonars and contributing to product designs while ensuring effective communication with stakeholders. Candidates should possess an engineering degree and extensive operational experience, particularly within submarines. The position encourages collaboration in an innovative environment. Benefits include flexible working arrangements and career development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively with customer and end-user community.
• Significant operational experience from submarine environments.
• Knowledge of sonar architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational assessments of submarine sonars.
• Apply operational experience to product design lifecycle.
• Support design and delivery of training packages for operational staff.

Skills

Effective communication

Operational experience in product development

Team collaboration

Strong written and verbal communication

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent RN operational experience

Job description

Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems. 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 the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, 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 the Role

Our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensor systems and decision superiority. We’re helping navies across the globe keep the world, our friends, our families and all of us safe.

In Anti‑submarine Warfare (ASW), we put huge numbers of sensors on every submarine, which locate and provide data about other submarines and objects. Our world‑leading sonar technology is used across the entire UK submarine fleet.

As part of this opportunity, you will be a member of the team focusing on the delivery of submarine based sonar systems and their associated training facilities. Your primary role will be to apply operational experience to the product and system design lifecycle.

You will gain experience across all aspects of the project lifecycle (from design to delivery) while gradually building knowledge which will enable you to undertake the following responsibilities.

Principal Relationships

• Engineers at all levels
• Engineering Delivery Managers
• Product Design Authorities
• Programme and Project Managers
• Supply Chain members
• Commercial team members
• Testing and Installation team members
• End Users Customers during Acceptance activities

Key Responsibilities and Tasks Overview

• Lead the operational assessment of submarine sonars throughout all activities in the IVVQ domain from an operational perspective.
• Apply operational experience to the product and system design lifecycle. Contribute to system design reviews and working groups with customer community.
• Adopt an innovative approach regarding solving significant technical issues with an operational perspective.
• Recommend solutions or alternatives with an authority derived from a recognised close understanding of the end‑user’s requirement.
• Support the definition and conduct of sea acceptance trials activities in order to demonstrate compliance with customer requirements.
• Identify business development opportunities through close working relationship with the end‑user community.
• Anticipate, interpret and communicate effectively, highlighting potential opportunities to the relevant business sector.
• Support sales and marketing events and equipment demonstrations with reference to platform experience.
• Support the design and delivery of training packages to operational staff for 1st‑of‑class platform equipment in the factory and at sea, ensuring a smooth introduction into service for the equipment.
• Share specialised knowledge and experience with colleagues playing an active role in their development.

Key Performance Indicators against Responsibilities and Tasks:

• This role is continually monitored for performance and as such some of the following typical key performance indicators (KPI’s) will be used:
• Quality of work produced against agreed standards
• Delivery to timescales Delivery to budget Performance against Thales key behaviours
• Attendance
• Performance against mandatory training

Expected Competence Level

Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively with customer and end‑user community.
• Ability to apply significant operational experience to product development. Ability to articulate operational needs into requirements definition.
• A knowledge of office tools. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• An ability to work as a key member of the team.

Experience

• The IVVQ operational lead should have significant experience from submarine operational environment regarding the associated sonars, command and control systems and the roles undertaken.
• Ability to deliver training courses to operators and command team.
• Knowledge of sonar architectures.
• Understanding of the effect of the maritime environment on sonar performance.

The post holder should have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate at all levels in the spoken and written word. A good outward appearance, self‑motivation and the ability to work under pressure are vital.

The success of the Systems Engineering job family relies on the interaction of its engineers at all levels; therefore, evidence of teamwork is required.

Values & Behaviours

As our business continues to evolve and grow, it’s important that we have clear accountability for our respective roles and what it takes to be successful. Therefore, everyone is expected to develop their behaviours along three key factors, each of which has two streams as shown below:

• Think Big:
  • Imagine the future: See ahead to design new, different and simplified solutions that will anticipate and address tomorrow’s business needs and challenges.
  • Inspire to engage:
• Make It Happen:
  • Deliver user‑centric solutions: Create customer intimacy, listen fully and be accountable for creating value for the client and for Thales.
  • Act with agility:
• Together:
  • Grow others and self: Invest energy to develop self and others, ensuring individual and organisational potential is maximised.
  • Include others: Empower others, embrace diversity in partnering beyond organisational boundaries to achieve common goals.

We want a safe and positive environment for all of us to grow, share knowledge and support each other so that we can all work at our best and be proud of our achievements.

Qualifications and Certification

Essential: Engineering degree or equivalent RN operational experience.

Please note that all applicants must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV Nation al Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Have attained, or working towards an appropriate professional status or equivalent

Financial / Budgetary Responsibility

The post holder may be expected to deliver projects to an agreed budget.

#LI-MC

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.

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