Job Description

Overview

Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

A Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a global space manufacturer delivering high-tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Thales UK conducts research, development and supply of technology and services that impact the lives of millions daily. We innovate across Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space and offer flexibility to support diverse working patterns when possible.

Due to the growth of our propulsion centre of excellence at our Harwell site in the UK, we are looking for an experienced chemical propulsion engineer. Drawing on your significant space propulsion systems experience (minimum 5 years) in chemical propulsion, this is an excellent opportunity to join this team. The position will be based at the TAS UK Harwell office.

Responsibilities

• To be a senior figure supporting various projects and team members within the existing team.
• Propulsion subsystem and propulsion equipment activities (EP and/or CP) during Phase A/B/C/D/E for recurring TAS satellite product line application programmes or developments.
• Be the primary technical point of contact responsible and lead for the propulsion subsystem, in both MAIT and Architecture, including procured propulsion equipment on a project, interfacing with customer technical teams, PMO, AIT team, procurement and other subsystem experts (such as Mech/Thermal, AOCS).
• Interpret mission/customer specific and generic system level requirements and establish the baseline technical requirements document (TRD) for the propulsion subsystem.
• Provide technical support to system level propulsion trade-offs for optimization of the satellite and mission design.
• Support the preparation of subsystem design justification documentation for major design reviews throughout the project life cycle.
• Present subsystem design justification in major design reviews in cooperation with the Program Management Office and other subsystems.
• Review and consolidate the technical documentation for the system through the different project life cycle milestones & reviews (EQSR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR, QR, etc).
• Establish integration and test plans and requirements for the subsystem; development and improvement of new analysis tools in specialised fluidic software (e.g. EcosimPro) and in Excel, MATLAB, and Python.
• Perform performance analyses in support of non-conformance review board.
• Prepare/update subsystem analysis reports through the project life cycle milestones & reviews (PDR, CDR, QR, etc).
• Demonstrate systems engineering knowledge across the Systems V to achieve critical project outcomes to time, cost and quality.
• Understand requirement management – traceability, IVVQ, etc.
• Provide regular reporting of technical progress to the project team and TAS management.
• Provide technical input to future propulsion developments and contribute to continuous improvement of products, systems and processes.
• Follow up equipment procurement from a technical perspective, in conjunction with the procurement department.
• Participate/Oversee the propulsion module manufacture and AIT activities.
• Manage any anomalies or non-conformances occurring throughout the project life cycle at equipment or subsystem level with support from product engineers and technical experts and present technical status/progress in NCRs with the customer.

Expected behaviours

• Clearly demonstrable technical competence on subsystems / equipment.
• Ability to communicate technically with confidence.
• Team player who can confidently interface at all levels within a project and represent the company externally with suppliers and customers.
• Pro-active and capable of working on own initiative with high integrity.
• Proactively seeks to understand the wider TAS organisation thinking beyond own role/technical skill domain.
• Good commercial awareness of specialist equipment.
• Ability to complete tasks autonomously to cost, schedule and quality.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

The following are considered essential for this role:

• Degree level qualification in a discipline associated with Space Engineering (such as engineering) or related subjects (such as physics).
• Significant direct experience in space engineering and the industry, in particular with propulsion.
• Desirable: Experience in the design and development of mono or bi-propellent thrusters using hydrazine and experience working at a system/subsystem level with said engines.
• Desirable: Understanding of construction, running and operating principles of PPUs and similar supporting electrical suppliers.

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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