Propulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead

Thales; Harwell; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Career development opportunities

Health and well-being initiatives

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense company is seeking a Propulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead to guide the propulsion strategy across a joint venture. This role involves significant technical leadership, requiring a deep understanding of propulsion systems, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing complex propulsion projects and possess excellent communication skills to engage with various stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates deep experience with propulsion systems for space flight.
• Experience as a technical lead for multiple space missions.
• Excellent communication and networking skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the propulsion strategy for the wider Thales Alenia Space.
• Ensure developments are communicated effectively to the procurement team.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders like UKSA and ESA.

Skills

Technical leadership

Communication

Networking

Education

Degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Propulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead

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Propulsion Technical & Product Strategy Lead

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Talent Acquisition Partner at Thales Alenia Space

A Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a global space manufacturer delivering, for more than 40 years, high-tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Thanks to our diversity of skills, talents and cultures, our customers (governments, institutions, space agencies, telecommunications operators), therefore have Space to Connect, Secure & Defend, Observe & Protect, Explore, Travel & Navigate.

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. Thales Alenia Space UK is the Propulsion Competence Centre and Propulsion Engineering Centre of Excellence for the wider Thales Alenia Space Joint Venture.

About the Role

The purpose of this role is to work TAS-JV wide to direct and inform the propulsion strategy for the wider TAS. This is a transnational role: A Senior Technical Leader of TAS-UK, influencing bid, design, development, qualification, test and production strategy and implementation of all propulsion sub-systems – TAS-UK achieved over £200m of OI in Propulsion in 2024 – this role is absolutely critical in delivering the capability for the business.

Responsibilities

• Significant experience in understanding market trends and customer needs, and will use this knowledge to develop the wider TAS JV portfolio plan for space propulsion.
• An experienced, knowledgeable senior technical leader who offers deep technical knowledge in the domain of propulsion for space missions.
• Recognised by their team, the wider TAS JV, the wider business community (industry and customer) as a knowledge leader in the industry.
• Ensure key flow down of future developments to procurement team to enable key technology developments.
• Will provide informed advice on benefits of technical innovations and new concepts in propulsion.
• Interact with TAS JV wider to direct and to collect and inform the propulsion strategy for the wider TAS.
• Work with the TAS Propulsion Competence Centre to support propulsion systems manufacturing in Belfast, concerning strategy, funding and approach.
• Provide technical support/advice to the UK technical Director.
• Maintain and grow relationships across all TAS domains and the TAS Product manager community.
• Lead on the development and delivery of TAS-UK Propulsion strategy.
• Lead on the adoption of technical principles that lay the foundations for propulsion excellence.
• Manage relationships with UKSA and ESA as a go to technical leader who can influence customer strategy and procurement decisions.
• Engage with the Engineering leadership and workforce for high performance.
• Refine and improve the phases of TAS-UK propulsion activity, build plans around excellence and work with the Engineering Leadership team to execute.
• Working with the procurement function to assure our Supply Chain propulsion activity is of a high technical standard and supporting supplier excellence.
• Engaging in CCRs or Gates acting as delegate for Technical Director as required.
• Supporting the development of talent through training and education.
• Working collaboratively with the Head of Engineering to ensure strong focus on meeting design release dates in line with procurement and production timescales.
• Leading a strategy portfolio of Space propulsion projects with over £200m revenue over 3-6 year timeframe (depending on programme).

Qualifications

• Demonstrate an outstanding record of accomplishment of technical management of propulsion systems for space flight.
• Deep experience as a technical lead for multiple space missions from concept through to delivery.
• Experience of working in a multi-discipline team environment.
• Wide customer, supplier, market and intuitional network and awareness, including internal stakeholders to TASUK.
• Experience in Space domain working for institutional and commercial customers.
• Excellent communication and networking skills on technical topics at the highest levels of an organization.
• Outstanding behaviours, engaging with people at all levels within the organisation in a positive way, building lasting relationships that deliver value for the organisation.

Required Skills

Preferred Skills

• A paragon of the Thales Leadership Model, the role-holder leads with outstanding behaviours, tackling complex and challenging problems whilst honouring the need for positive and long-lasting relationships with colleagues at all levels.
• Displays energy, drive, agility and resilience in achieving work-related goals under difficult circumstances.
• Enjoys or thrives on developing and performing through teamwork, and promoting improvements and change.
• Ability to interface well and influence effectively, and tenaciously, at all levels including internally and externally with customers, partners and suppliers.
• Business aware and customer oriented with organisation and commercial awareness.
• A strategic thinker who has the ability to work innovatively with sometimes-unclear briefs; a persistent and tenacious high achiever, with the ability to quickly learn new skills and concepts.
• Be customer/market focused – both internal and external customers – to ensure that the needs of the customers are met.

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.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering, Information Technology, and Strategy/Planning

• Industries

  Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing, Defense and Space Manufacturing, and Space Research and Technology

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