Senior Product Assurance Specialist

Senior Product Assurance Specialist

Salary:
Band E (S1) £56,508 per annum

Hours:
Full time
(We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Contract Type
: Fixed-Term (3 years with possibility of extension or conversion to permanent).

Location:
Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it\’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you\’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About us

RAL Space is involved in all aspects of the design, manufacture, assembly and test of hardware and software for space-based and ground-based scientific instruments for studying the cosmos, understanding our solar system and monitoring the Earth and its climate. An important part of this work is the Product Assurance function, provided by the RAL Space Product Assurance Group.

The Role

The RAL Space Product Assurance Group is looking to appoint a Senior Product Assurance Specialist.

This role will be to join the Ariel Payload Product Assurance Team and act as the customer to a key subsystem. The role includes responsibility for monitoring and driving the suppliers of the subsystem in executing the agreed Product Assurance Plan. The post-holder will then be responsible for ensuring that the activities it prescribes are followed to provide appropriate control and records of materials and processes, dependability, safety, EEE components, and for quality assurance measures. The PA Manager is the formal point of contact with the end customers (national and international space agencies) and suppliers on all Product Assurance matters of the subsystem. You will be working with a team of PA Managers and reporting to the Ariel Payload Product Assurance Manager closely.

You must be capable of thorough and conscientious work to tight deadlines, adapting to changing priorities as the need arises. In managing Product Assurance issues, there is frequently the need to negotiate the best course of action, so effective oral and written communication skills are essential when dealing with managers, engineers and scientists both within RAL Space and with representatives of space agencies, customers and suppliers. You will need to be able to demonstrate experience in space Product Assurance and in managing suppliers for space hardware in the assurance field.

The successful candidate will need to travel frequently (estimated to be 5 days per month) to Italy and various other countries in Europe.

Person Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I):

• Experience as a Product Assurance Manager (S&I)
• Including (but not limited to): NRB chairpersonship, gateway chairing, declared list authorship etc. (S&I)
• Bachelor\’s degree in a STEM subject, or a strong record of professional development (S)
• Work experience of a scientific, engineering or technical nature (S)
• Understanding of the many keys physical and engineering challenges of building equipment to operate in space (I)
• Excellent written communication (S)
• Excellent oral communication (I)
• Evidence of effective time management and prioritisation (S&I)
• Evidence of thoroughness and attention to detail (I)

Employee Benefits:

We are offering a fixed-term position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme

Link to more benefits:

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit or contact

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe\’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there\’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what\’s possible.