System Integration and Test Manager

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

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 five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, 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 Role

The primary purpose of this position is to define and implement IVVQ/ITEA strategy, management and tasks for key business projects across a range of domains.

As an Integration, Verification, Validation and Qualification Manager (IVVQM) and member of the Central Systems Engineering Team in Thales UK, you will focus on the successful delivery of a range of solutions to a wide variety of customers in our Civil and Military domains.

This could include:

• Supporting less experienced IVVQMs in their planning and execution of IVVQ/ITEA activities
• Acting as the IVVQM on specific projects on short secondments or extended loan
• Supporting one or more projects, in a range of domains encompassing Land, Sea and Air products

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

You will be accountable to the UK Systems Discipline & Capability Director and/or the Solutions Engineering Manager on the project/program being supported. As an expert in IVVQ and ITEA you will have a wide range of responsibilities depending on the specific tasks in hand. They cannot be enumerated here but may typically include the following:

• Lead the IVVQ and ITEA activities on behalf of Thales with the Customer on Complex programmes
• Prepare the IVVQA plan, work breakdown structure and schedule activities for the IVVQA activities
• Liaison with project/bid requirements lead/team and the customer to ensure IVVQ/ITEA is an integral part of the planning process at the start of the lifecycle
• Prepare System Integration Verification Validation & Qualification activities
• Define IVVQ strategy, establishes requirements related to IVVQ activities and perform associated estimates and schedule
• Specify and manage the acquisition of any special to type test equipment
• Specify, choose and deploy methodologies (including metrics), tools/platforms necessary to conduct IVVQ and acceptance activities.
• Propose IVVQ scenarios and manage their implementation
• Coordinate IVVQ activities
• Establishes priorities and report on risks
• Perform or organize testing on the manufacturer’s site or at the customer’s premises or at an Environmental Test Facility.
• Manage and support a trials team
• Analyze results and produce technical reports
• Work in multi-discipline team
• Provide guidance and support to a number of development projects
• Lead and/or oversee the creation, maintenance and execution of product IVVQ plans – maximising the planned use of automated test methods to increase efficiency wherever possible
• Review of internally and externally generated Technical Artefacts (Requirements Specifications, ICDs, Design Documentation and Architecture Documents) from an IVVQ perspective
• Operationally lead the IVVQ Systems Engineering Team and ensure delivery of all IVVQ work products to time, cost, and quality.
• Establish and maintain appropriate IVVQ metrics to support progress reporting and decision making.
• To lead and coordinate all governance reviews associated with the IVVQ phase of the product development lifecycle
• To support customer meetings, and lead on product demonstrations with key stakeholders and customers
• To lead the collation of evidence to support population of the product VVRM in support of system certification

Experience And Skills

• Planning and execution of a complex IVVQA campaign
• Ability to work in a multifunction multicultural teams
• Good knowledge of Systems Engineering, Design, Verification and Validation and of complex Systems and sub-systems in Land. Sea and Air domains.
• Be self-motivated and capable of working alone and within teams
• Have good written and oral communication skills to allow effective communication with peers, and both technical and non-technical customers
• Methodical and organized approach
• A proven record working in a Systems IVVQ environment
• Experience of generating tests cases to verify systems
• Sharp intellect with a challenging approach and a “can do attitude”.
• Good understanding of engineering process and measures
• Able to influence a wide range of people to get things done – needs to be highly effective in a matrix based organisation – a good team player

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.

Great journeys start here, apply now!