Engineering Operations Manager

• Title: Engineering Operations Manager
• Department: Space Systems
• Location: Valencia, Spain
• Type of Contract: Permanent
• Working Model: On-site
• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO)

The Mission of the Engineering Operations Manager

As ICEYE aims to pursue challenging objectives the number of important programs and projects increases. While Directors will oversee a significant number of those projects, in some cases dedicated personnel is needed to lead those activities as they are of significant importance for the organization.

The Engineering Operations Manager will lead some but not all projects in ICEYE. We maintain an emphasis on engineer driven work and that means engineers still leading a big bulk of our development efforts. For some projects such as next generation satellite design, key technology upgrades, etc, the Engineering Operations Manager will act as main organizer among all subsystem owners, engineers assigned to the projects, etc.

The Engineering Operations Manager will have the accountability for the execution of the project and will be given authority on the usage of the resources assigned to the project.

The Engineering Operations Manager will be responsible for proposing a timeline that adjusts to the needs of the organization and will request the appropriate amount of resources to execute the project in the most optimal way. 

The Engineering Operations Manager will then own that timeline and organize the effort among engineers and team leads across the organization to execute within the planned schedule.

On other projects of Space Systems the Engineering Operations Manager will preemptively recognize the bottlenecks and act accordingly to prevent them and will raise at the right time challenges and proposed actions to the directors and/or VP so those actions can be implemented in alignment with organization objectives and ultimately for the successful execution of the project.

The Engineering Operations Manager will be able to resolve technical discussions by selecting the right people on efficient forums to make those decisions. They will be able to resolve most of those technical discussions but can use Directors and SVP to assist on final decision making when implications are important.

The Engineering Operations Manager will use tools available at their disposal to motivate the team and enable project leaders to organize their work and use their team assets in the most effective way possible. If a project is delivered but the team is unable to work together again, is unmotivated and doesn't want to work with the Engineering Operations Manager in the future the Engineering Operations Manager would be considered unsuccessful in their role.

Requirements

What will you need to be successful in this role?

Within this role you will be responsible for a broad range of tasks, including; 

Being a Project leader or Subsystem Owner for critical projects:

• Perform work breakdown
• Build, monitor and maintain the projects timeline
• Responsible for troubleshooting
• Lead cross-team developments
• Ensure documentation is in place and align to design to build
• Identify, assess and mitigate risks
• Follow critical purchases to ensure that the timeline is meet
  

Helping other Project coordinators to succeed

• Running project management process including resource allocation & reporting
• Developing ways to share best project management practices 
• Ensure other project leaders and subsystems owners stick to the timeline
• Ensure project leaders have the documentation in place
• Identify, assess and mitigate risks and support the project leader to get better at this in the future
• Aligning with the supply chain on prioritization of orders and providing visibility on critical items.

Helping Subsystem Owners to succeed

• Setting expectations for Subsystem Owners
• Developing trainings and best practises sharing for subsystem owners
  

As part of the role, it is essential that you:

• Have experience in how to design Mechanics, or electronics, or software of spacecraft systems.
• Understand the satellite as a system and understand the implications of design changes in overall performance of spacecraft or technical complexity.
• Have been an engineer in their career and preferably an important percentage of your career. You have done more than just project management.
• Have managed projects before and know tools for management, Jira, Project, Excel timelines, etc. 
• Possess hands-on experience, knows the tools of project management but also understands how long it takes to complete things because they have done it themselves or worked closely with stakeholders. They are even able to do engineering when needed to complete the project.
• Are able to understand the technical requirements and complexity of the project, able to dissect what would be the main bottlenecks and challenges.
• Understand where to take risk and they are able to comfortably take that risk when needed to succeed in the project.
• Know that the project needs a plan A, B, C , D , ….  Always ready to change direction to succeed in the plan in case things go wrong.
• You must be an excellent communicator as you will interface directly with other team leads, PMs and other stakeholders. You should be capable of technical conflict resolution and guidance of technical crowds.
• Engineers enjoy working with them, they are the natural go person to solve a problem.
• Has technical background of one or more aspects needed for Spacecraft design, subsystem design, etc
• High energy and drive is a must have and is one of the most important aspects. They usually don't say no when asked something challenging but rather say “let me take a look” and are able to come up with a plan with respective compromises to be successful.

In addition to the above, it would be beneficial if you had the below attributes and skills: 

• Have managed projects
• Spacecraft system level knowledge
• Has managed people in some point of their careers or at least lead technically groups of people

Benefits

What We Offer at ICEYE

At ICEYE, you will join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. We know that we will succeed only through exceptional people in our team — which is why your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority.

As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. You will benefit from continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture that values collaboration, curiosity, and integrity. ICEYE is a place where your contributions have a visible impact, and where we celebrate success together.

Benefits

• ICEYE offers amazing relocation packages to Valencia, Spain
• A job that matters in a dynamic Earth Observation environment with a scale-up approach
• An independent role with a supportive and diverse work environment
• Time for self-development, research, training, conferences, or certification schemes
• Health insurance
• Coffee, snacks, and sweets to accompany your daily space mission
• Creative, inspiring and collaborative office
• Competitive salary contingent on your experience level, and will be negotiated individually

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At ICEYE, we believe that diversity isn't just a buzzword – it's our greatest asset. 

We're committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is not only heard but celebrated. We know that diverse perspectives breed innovation and creativity, which is why we actively seek out individuals from all walks of life, backgrounds, and experiences. 

Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table. Join us and be part of a team where differences are not only embraced but cherished, because together, we're stronger. 

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those who may need workplace adjustments. If you require any specific accommodations or assistance during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know.

Apply now to start your ICEYE journey, and help us continue to make the impossible possible together. Read more about working with us at iceye.com.