Program Manager - UK

Macdonald, Dettwiler And Associates Corporation; East Hagbourne; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Private healthcare

Disability income protection

Life insurance

Pension plan

Employee assistance program

Job summary

MDA Space in the UK is seeking a Project Manager to lead multi-project initiatives across Geointelligence, Robotics & Space Operations, and Satellite Systems from our Didcot/Didcot office.

You will drive planning, risk management, budgeting and customer engagement while coordinating with technical, production and validation teams to deliver on time, within cost and to specification.

Qualifications

• Direct experience in design and development of space flight hardware and/or software.
• Familiarity with project lifecycle from bid through execution and close down.
• Ability to motivate people and lead cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing project budgets and resources for senior management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure standards, processes and controls across all project phases meet objectives.
• Set work-packages for HW/SW needs with customer satisfaction in mind.
• Manage risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies.
• Coordinate with technical, production and validation teams to de-risk schedules.
• Develop new business opportunities and expand existing ones in the space sector.
• Work across multiple projects and customers concurrently.
• Contribute to proposals, statements of work and budgets; influence contracts.
• Identify issues and propose solutions like resource reallocation.
• Feed back external and internal feedback into processes and approaches.
• Maintain calm and focus in a fast-moving environment.

Skills

Space hardware

Communication

Project lifecycle

Scheduling tools

Travel readiness

Clear communication

Budget management

Risk management

Self-motivation

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Project Advantage

Job description

Harwell - Didcot Didcot, OXF OX110GD, GBR

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The global MDA Space team of more than 3,800 space experts has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission – bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that’s been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we’ll take you there. For more information, visit www.mda.space.

We’re on the hunt for a Project Manager at our UK office.

MDA Space’s international footprint in the UK creates opportunities to work with some of the most exciting space industrial players in the country. Delivering all three business area capabilities in Geointelligence, Robotics & Space Operations, and Satellite Systems, our UK team provides support to our European-based customers while specializing in the development of advanced space sensors for exploration missions as well as space-based communication technology. As our presence grows overseas, so does our need for new ambitious team players to help us advance our place in the Universe and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Ensure suitable standards, processes and controls are followed across all phases of the projects from conceptualization through completion, including planning, and managing technical performance to ensure quality, business, schedule and financial objectives are attained.
• Set-out and agree work-packages to ensure all HW/SW needs are delivered with customer satisfaction in mind.
• Risk, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies capture & management
• Interfacing with various teams – technical, production, validation, quality; to co-ordinate and de-risk schedules
• Contribute to the development of new business opportunities and expansion of existing business opportunities in the space community.
• Be comfortable to work across multiple projects for multiple customers.
• Be intimately involved in the preparation of proposals, proposal work statements and specifications and operating budgets. Influence contract negotiations and modifications.
• Identify project issues through risk and opportunity management and provide leadership and direction in how to develop solutions such as re-allocation of resources or modifying contract specification.
• Ensure that feedback from internal and external customers and entities is continually and robust fed back into out processes and approach.
• Be comfortable in a fast moving and dynamic environment with whilst being able to remain calm and keep the team focused on the goal.

Required skills

• Direct experience in design and development of space flight hardware and/or software
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent
• At least 5 years experience managing technical projects.
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Familiarity with project lifecycle from bid through execution and close down
• Familiarity with Project Advantage or other scheduling tools
• Ability to motivate people
• Self- motivated and able to take initiative
• Ability to travel as required
• Ability to communicate complex issues clearly to various audiences with technical & non-technical backgrounds
• Managing and Reporting on Project Budget and Resources to senior management
• Defining, mitigating and managing project risks

Skills considered an asset

• Familiarity with formal configuration control methods
• Experience working on projects in the space industry, including gate/phase reviews
• Experience dealing with complex systems, analysis and testFamiliarity with communications payload technologies
• Familiarity with international standards, ECSS, etc.
• Experience in capture management and proposal writing.

We’re a dream team of purpose-driven, collaborative and passionate people, and we are constantly looking for others to join #TeamMDA to ignite new and innovative approaches to problem-solving that push us forward to improve life on and above Earth. If you’re excited to expand our place in space and driven to inspire the next generation, we’ll take you there.

We have entered a new era of exploration and development, and MDA Space welcomes all who yearn to suit up and be part of it. An equal opportunity employer prizing diversity, integrity and collaboration, we are committed to growing MDA Space’s leadership in this next golden age.

Benefits statement

MDA Space provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations.

As a team member of MDA, you and your qualified dependents are eligible to participate in a benefit plan that ensures a comprehensive level of protection through competitive health care including;

• private healthcare
• disability income protection
• life insurance
• pension plan
• an employee assistance program

We also have a Hybrid work model in place, for a better work/life balance.

Equal opportunity statement

MDA Space is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.

Accommodations

MDA Space is proud to provide accommodation(s) during the recruitment process. Should you require any accommodations, please indicate this on your application/cover letter and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

We are required to conduct a BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) screening in which we will check your:

• Right to work: To confirm that you are entitled to take up the position as well as check your nationality and immigration status
• Identity: Full ID check
• Criminal records: Basic Disclosure
• Employment history check: Confirmation of past three years of employment (minimum) history/activity
• Reference checks