Seat Integration Manager in Bristol

Location: Bristol, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in-flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircraft. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. Together, each and every member of our aerospace team makes a difference.

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 the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, 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.

The Seat Integration Manager leads the design, development, and integration of complex IFE/connectivity products into aircraft seats, ensuring they are competitive, profitable, and aligned with airline customer needs. This role oversees the full product lifecycle — from early innovation and strategy through development, certification, production, and obsolescence — while ensuring seamless integration across multiple seat platforms and OEM environments.

The position carries both strategic product ownership and program execution responsibility, acting as the central point of coordination between engineering, suppliers, OEMs, seat vendors, and internal solution teams.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic & Product Leadership
  • Contribute to the overall Solution Strategy and Multi‑Year Budget planning for seat‑integrated products.
  • Deliver annual Product Policy outputs: product roadmap, strategy, competitiveness assessments.
  • Own the product roadmap across all seat platforms, including investment planning, technology evolution, and lifecycle management.
  • Ensure product policy execution and alignment with business, engineering, and customer priorities.
  • Support solution‑level activities such as early product definition, supplier selection, and Make/Team/Buy decisions.
• Seat Integration & Technical Execution
  • Lead integration of IFE/connectivity products into various seat types (e.g., linefit, retrofit, premium, economy).
  • Coordinate with Project Engineers and Product Owners to define and validate requirements, user specifications, and integration constraints.
  • Oversee development, certification, and first‑article production to ensure on‑time, on‑budget, high‑quality delivery.
  • Manage technical and program interfaces with seat manufacturers, OEMs (Airbus/Boeing), and internal engineering teams.
  • Ensure compliance with seat‑level requirements: mechanical, electrical, thermal, safety, certification, and maintainability.
• Program & Supplier Management
  • Lead the product‑level IPT, ensuring alignment across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and customer success.
  • Conduct internal program reviews (PMRs, IPRs, risk reviews) and maintain accurate project documentation.
  • Manage all product‑related budgets (CFR&D, SFR&D, CAPEX, OPEX).
  • Drive supplier selection and manage relationships with key partners and seat vendors.
  • Serve as a primary technical and program interface with OEMs and customers.
• Commercial & Customer Support
  • Develop and validate the sales kit for seat‑integrated products.
  • Support marketing, business development, and customer success teams with product promotion and bid activities.
  • Represent the business line in customer reviews, ensuring customer‑specific integration needs are captured and delivered.

Background in avionics, ideally with exposure to IFE/connectivity and airline/seat‑vendor ecosystems. Experience with managing complex aerospace development programs. Strong understanding of product architecture and technical trade‑offs. Financial and business acumen. Experience working with multicultural teams across time zones. Knowledge of software development and system integration. Proficiency with MS Office; familiarity with SAP, Primavera, MS Project.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing full product lifecycle economics.
• Market analysis experience in IFE or related technology sectors.
• Experience with value‑based pricing and business model development.
• Project Management Certification.

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.

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.

Great journeys start here, apply now!