IRIS² PA/QA Manager – EU Communication Gateway (Ground Segment)

Description

This role is critical to safeguarding programme delivery, ensuring that quality, safety, and compliance risks are identified, controlled, and resolved before they impact acceptance or operations.
 
In this role, you will hold independent authority over Product Assurance and Quality Assurance across SSC’s IRIS² ground segment scope. You will ensure that products, processes, suppliers, and programme deliverables meet demanding contractual, and regulatory requirements throughout the full lifecycle—from design to operational handover.
 
You operate with independent assurance authority within the programme governance structure, including the authority to hold, pause, or stop work and to prevent acceptance or release where evidence is insufficient.
 
This is a senior programme-level role requiring strong credibility with both engineering teams and executive stakeholders.
 
 This role is for you if you:

• Have led Product Assurance, Quality Assurance, or mission assurance in complex, regulated programmes
• Are confident exercising independent authority and challenging delivery decisions when required
• Have deep experience with quality standards and frameworks such as ISO9001 and ECSS or equivalent
• Are comfortable working across engineering, V&V, safety, security, and supply chain environments
• Thrive in structured, evidence-driven environments with high expectations for compliance and traceability

 

Requirements

• Significant experience in Product Assurance, Quality Assurance, or mission assurance in space, defence, telecommunications, or critical infrastructure programmes
• Strong hands-on experience with ECSS, ESA-style lifecycle reviews, verification, qualification, acceptance, and release governance
• Proven experience with audit programmes, NCR management, corrective action systems, and supplier quality assurance
• Experience coordinating assurance activities across engineering, V&V, safety, operations, and supply chain functions
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent quality authority and escalate issues based on objective evidence
• Strong communication skills, including structured reporting, review documentation, and executive briefing 

Highly Valuable:

• Experience in satellite communications, ground segment, or secure infrastructure programmes
• Experience with RAMS, safety assurance, or dependability analysis
• Familiarity with EU institutional programmes or ESA environments
• Experience with configuration management, documentation control, and evidence management systems