Project Design Authority / Systems Design Authority

Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom. Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems. 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.

About the team: Thales Underwater Systems (UWS) who design, develop and support Sonar Systems applications for anti-submarine warfare and mine hunting, have a fantastic opportunity for a Project Design Authority to join a close-knit, friendly and hardworking team.

Our Opportunity: The Project Design Authority will be responsible for Solution Compliance for a Services Project. Acts as the primary technical leader of the Service Solution project team. Acts as lead technical interface with the Customer. The role brings together all of the service offerings for multiple business lines, which also include capability upgrades to the various systems. This role provides the overall technical oversight for all of these elements, and will ensure the appropriate system is addressing issues.

• Responsible for ensuring, with the support of Specialty Engineering experts & Safety/HSE stakeholders, that the Solution design takes into account contract requirements and applicable legislation, rules & regulations, including product safety & security and Environmental/HSE requirements & standards, and that related certification activities are performed adequately and correctly.
• Analyses Customer needs/requirements and assesses the Support Solution architecture and technical choices.
• Ensures Solution compliance with Customer needs, Product Policy, Make Team Buy (MTB) Strategy & applicable legislation, rules & regulations. Approves the technical specification and source selection of subsystems/products to be outsourced, by taking into account MTB policy, export restrictions and offset requirements.
• Reviews the technical risks and opportunities and the related mitigation plans throughout the bid or project.
• Checks the production and the maintenance/service aspects of the Solution with the Production Process/Technology Manager (PPTM) and the Service Engineering Managers.
• Checks that the Engineering Environment (E2) for the Solution is consistent with Country/Company E2 Instruction, and overall Solution cost, technical risks & schedule.
• Approves the Design & Justification File (D&JF) prepared by the Solution Architect (ARC).
• Approves the completion of integration, verification, validation and qualification results.
• Organises when appropriate technical meetings and peer reviews together with the Engineering Delivery Manager (EDM) and other technical stakeholders and experts, in order to perform the Solution technical assessment and validation.

About You: Good technical writing skills and good interpersonal communication skills. A well-proven leadership capability – with natural ability to build and sustain strong working relationships at all levels. First class presentation skills. Ability to effectively manage relationships across the business and achieve outcomes beneficial to both own team and the broader business. Effective personal organisation and an ability to remain composed and focused under pressure.

Experience: Acknowledged expert in one or more of the technological disciplines relevant to the company, e.g. Sonar Systems, Visual Systems, Electronic Warfare, Processing, Outboard Hardware etc, and/or in one or more of understanding of business case generation. The developmental lifecycle disciplines, e.g. Requirements Capture, Modelling & Analysis, System Design, Product Development, IV&V, support and disposal. Experienced and knowledgeable of whole systems engineering lifecycles for large complex systems. Proven PDA with technical/project experience in both development and support fields.

Desirable: Significant Experience in an Engineering role in an appropriate engineering field, e.g. Maritime or Defence. L6 Qualification (degree or equivalent in an engineering or scientific discipline).

Security Clearance statement: Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a sole British National from birth and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

What We Can Offer: We’re committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.

Flexibility: Your health and well-being matter 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, hybrid 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.

Benefits at Thales: Alongside a competitive base salary, we offer a benefits package, which includes; Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm, Hybrid working, Pension Scheme, 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays), Life Cover, Progression and Development Opportunities, 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app, Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers, Development focused targets and relocation support can be provided if required along with a variety of learning, development and career enhancement opportunities.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.