Product Assurance Engineer in Manchester

At the SKAO we are coordinating a global effort to deliver one of the largest science facilities on the planet. The SKAO telescopes will be next‑generation instruments that will help to answer key questions in astrophysics, drive technological innovation and support human capital development. More than a dozen partner countries and over a thousand scientists and engineers around the world are already on board, making the SKA project an international collaboration like no other, and one of the most ambitious science and engineering endeavours of the 21st century.

Headquartered in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO will be one observatory operating two telescopes, an endeavour spanning three continents. Multinational by design, in early 2021 the SKAO became an intergovernmental organisation, one of only a select handful of science infrastructures to do so worldwide. Our Global HQ is located near the buzzing city of Manchester at the historic Jodrell Bank Observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Cheshire countryside. It is home to a rapidly expanding international team of more than a hundred, working in a highly collaborative and inclusive way, in coordination with SKAO teams in Australia and South Africa as part of a global astronomy and engineering community.

Being part of Team SKA means contributing to something extraordinary: a uniquely exciting project to advance human knowledge that will last for decades. In return, we offer a diverse multicultural working environment, 30 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme, visa and support with relocation (if applicable), regular social events, a family‑friendly environment and much more. Come and join us!

Ideal for an experienced quality professional with a track record of implementing Quality Assurance / Quality Control programmes on major capital projects—developing and executing quality plans, driving compliance to customer requirements and applicable standards, and influencing internal and external stakeholders to deliver right‑first‑time outcomes.

The Role

The SKAO Product Assurance team is responsible for the definition and implementation of the quality assurance and control activities for the SKA Project. Reporting to the Product Assurance Manager, the Product Assurance Engineer delivers hands‑on implementation of SKA quality assurance requirements for certain contracts within the SKA project and provides clear, regular updates to the project team. The role involves close engagement with contractors to confirm the adequacy of their processes and resources to execute the contracts, and to rigorously review outputs at each contract stage for compliance with requirements, standards and regulations. Working closely with Subject Matter Experts as required, the role is central to ensuring product quality and successful integration into the SKA Telescope system.

The Product Assurance required for SKAO will involve several challenges which are unique to research infrastructures. The successful candidate will rise to these challenges and overcome them to help deliver a world‑leading science facility. This will require good problem‑solving skills, flexibility and adaptability to the ways of working in a research environment in order to come up with innovative theoretical ideas to problems and translating them to practical solutions for implementation.

The Product Assurance Engineer will be based at the SKAO headquarters in the UK but will also work in the field at contractors sites, the SKAO test facilities and the Telescope construction sites. Therefore, regular international travel to these sites will be required. Some duties may require occasional extended stays of up to 4 weeks in host countries, subject to visa requirements. The role is a two year fixed‑term and will be based in the SKAO Global Headquarters located at Jodrell Bank in the UK.

SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory. There may be occasions where this role requires the post holder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties

• Quality Management System

• Contribute to the development of each Statement of Work to ensure quality requirements are clearly specified in contracts
• Review contractors' quality policy statements and plans to enable the Project Managers to accept them
• Monitor the implementation of the contractors' quality plans
• Work with Subject Matter Experts, Project Managers, and contractors to identify critical items and raise early warnings, and follow up with their resolution
• Liaise with the Project Managers to ensure relevant disciplines—especially in specific risk areas—are available on the client side to support the quality assurance activities
• Regularly report to the project team on the overall implementation of the contractors' quality plans
• Lead the conduct of Quality Audits of allocated contracts and support other PA team members with the conduct of their audits
• Convene and/or attend and minute regular quality meetings with contractors
• Log Learning from Experience (LfE) for all activities and ensure they are embodied in the entry criteria for all reviews
• Maintain quality records that include the contractor's progress records, including, where applicable, imagery

• Review the contractor's test and inspection plans
• Clarify with the contractor those products which the scope states are to be tested or inspected before receiving and delivery to working areas
• Ensure that off‑site tests or inspections are passed before items are delivered
• Identify and clarify with the contractors the standards to be applied in the manufacture, assembly, integration, inspection and test activities of the project
• Carry out planned mandatory inspections to assess the manufacturing, assembly, integration, inspections and test operations that are performed by the contractors to ensure they comply with the quality requirements, applicable standards and regulations
• Incorporate the considerations of SKA Safety Management in the scrutiny of test and inspection results
• Monitor, witness and report on tests and inspection activities
• Advise the Project Manager on the outputs of test and inspection activities that might affect payments and completion

• Notify contractors of defects
• Ensure all defects are timely resolved in accordance with the defects management process
• Ensure the Defects Register is up to date throughout the duration of the contract
• Advise the Project Manager regarding the acceptance of defects and uncorrected defects

• Occasional travel may be required for field work at contractors’ sites, SKAO test facilities, and telescope construction sites in host countries (South Africa and Australia). Some trips may include extended stays of up to four weeks, subject to visa requirements.

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Degree in manufacturing engineering or related disciplines, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable understanding of one or more of both mass production and bespoke manufacturing processes that pertain to electronic equipment, civil works, plant/machinery, large fabricated structures and distribution systems (power, data, fluids)
• Experience in planning and carrying out tests and inspections on equipment and systems
• Experience in planning and carrying out product and process audits
• Knowledge and implementation of ISO 9001 (or demonstrated equivalence) in major capital projects
• Self‑motivated problem‑solver
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of working in the space or research infrastructure (preferably astronomy) industries
• Understanding of systems engineering processes and familiarity of ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 standard
• Experience in safety management systems
• Quality Assurance certifications

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

SKA Observatory recognises that our diversity is a strength. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. As such, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the core of SKA Observatory’s agenda. Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, nationality or background. Women have traditionally been under‑represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Observatory welcomes and encourages female applicants. Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided. SKA Observatory welcome all candidates, especially those from member countries.