Optical Payload Performance Manager

Job Description:

Security Clearance: You will be subject to a BPSS check (including a criminal record check)

Travel Required: Occasional travel within UK / and international

Location: Portsmouth (60% of your working week must be office based)

Type: Full time

First of all, what's in it for you...

• Financial Reward: Competitive salary, annual profit share, contributory pension, share options, car leasing scheme, free onsite parking, season ticket loan, tax-free technology scheme, discounted shopping and much more

• Work / Life Balance: 37 hour week, flexible working around core hours and Friday afternoons off, hybrid working, up to 2 additional days per month as TOIL, option to buy/sell holiday

• Personal Development: Personalised development plan, Airbus Leadership University and unlimited access to 10,000+ E-learning courses, internal mobility including international opportunities

• Health & Wellbeing: Wellbeing benefits (including 24/7 online GP and mental health support), Employee Assistance Programme, discounted family health / dental insurance / eye tests, cycle-to-work scheme, on-site canteen and coffee shop, lunchtime pilates

• Family and Caregiving: Life assurance, enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave and caregiving

• Inclusive Environment: Wellbeing room, Multi-faith room, Employee Representative Groups (Gender, LGBTQ+, International, Generational, Disability, Social & Cultural Diversity, Neurodiversity) 

Our world is changing. And so are we. From our commitment to zero-carbon flight (#ZEROe) to cleaning up space, sustainability is at the heart of our purpose. So what's your next change?

About the role...

Airbus Defence & Space are looking for a Optical Payload Performance Manager who will lead the performance management of high-tech optical instruments for the TRUTHS program. The Optical Payload Performance Manager will ensure the instrument meets customer requirements, coordinating technical work, and analysing performance data. They’ll collaborate with teams across disciplines, manage performance-related engineering tasks, and contribute to defining the overall payload architecture.

How you will contribute to the team...

1. Manage Payload Performance:

• Ensure the instrument’s performance aligns with customer specifications.

• Define and coordinate performance engineering activities.

• Act as the performance expert for internal and external stakeholders.

2. Performance Engineering Tasks:

• Develop and manage performance requirements and budgets.

• Analyse and model instrument performance using advanced tools.

• Develop data processing algorithms to analyse calibration and test data.

3. Verification and Validation:

• Support and execute test campaigns to verify instrument performance.

• Use data from testing to validate compliance with requirements.

4. Collaborate on Systems Engineering:

• Work with engineering teams to define instrument architecture and trade-offs.

• Assess and recommend performance-driven design solutions.

5. Technical Leadership:

• Oversee a team of performance engineers and ensure alignment with project milestones.

About you...

• Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of optics, mechanics, detection systems, and electronics.

• Practical Experience: Hands-on experience with optical or photonic systems with a familiarity with optical metrology and precision measurement techniques.

• Data and Software Skills: Proficient in data analysis (Matlab, Python, etc.) and basic optical design tools, with experience in processing raw measurement data into usable scientific insights.

• Industry Knowledge: Experience in space instrument development life cycles, including design, production, and testing.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills in international environments.

How we can support you...

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need and we’ll always do our best to accommodate your request. 

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process – you can share this with your Talent Acquisition Partner if you are invited to interview. Examples may include (but not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout, etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Airbus UK will offer an interview to any applicant that considers themselves to have a disability or long-term condition and meets the minimum criteria of the role (as set out in the job advert). To ‘opt in’, just select the option during your application submission and our Talent Acquisition team will contact you.

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This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

AIRBUS Defence and Space Limited

Employment Type:

Permanent

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Experience Level:

Professional

Job Family:

Chief Engineering & Architecture

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Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [email protected].

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.