Manager, Technical Programme Management IRIS2

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

IRIS2 is the new European Union secure satellite constellation. This project is the European Union's answer to the pressing challenges of tomorrow to provide secure connectivity services and enhanced communication capacities to the EU and its Member States as well as to governmental users, private companies and European citizens while ensuring high-speed internet broadband to cope with connectivity dead zones.

SES – together with other consortium partners and core members - was selected by European Commission to build and to operate the IRIS2 multi-orbit satellite constellation.

The IRIS2 team enters next project phases and there is a strong need of support for all the activities around service provisioning and products that the system can offer in the future.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

You will be part of an agile project organization where a flexible way of working and an adaptive mindset is required.

In your role, you will lead multi-disciplinary efforts in the design, integration, and delivery of large-scale satellite communication systems, focusing on the harmonization of space, ground, and architectural segments.

You will be at the heart of program delivery for next-generation space-based systems such as the IRIS2 MEO satellite programme. Your role is pivotal in ensuring technical consistency, managing complex system and subsystem requirements, and maintaining alignment across engineering, software, and operational domains.

 PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Technical Program Coordination: Support system technical lead in coordinating cross-functional teams through all phases of the constellation program lifecycle.
• Requirements coordination: Own the requirements engineering process: capture, validate, trace, and ensure completeness and consistency across all segments (space, ground, user). Facilitate interface definition and control across architecture layers and segments.
• Support Segments Synchronization: Ensure technical integration and alignment between the space, ground, and user segments. Maintain a system-level view to identify dependencies, resolve conflicts, and drive architecture convergence.
• Coordination & Technical Interface: Act as the central point of contact across teams, facilitating communication and alignment between engineering, operations, and external stakeholders. Support coordination with external suppliers and subcontractors by participating in processes, reviewing technical deliverables, and ensuring alignment with program milestones and system requirements.
• Support technical program planning: Develop and maintain detailed task plans, action tracking, documentation progress, in alignment with work breakdown structures (WBS), schedules, resource allocations, and risk mitigation strategies. Ensure progress tracking and on-time delivery of tasks, actions and documentation.
• Performance Reporting & Metrics: Drive the use of data and dashboards to track performance, manage technical milestones, and ensure accountability. Report on progress to internal leadership and stakeholders.
• Tooling & Process Optimization: Champion the use of professional project management tools for planning, tracking, and documentation. Propose and implement improvements in engineering processes, consistency checks, and configuration control mechanisms.

COMPETENCIES

• Systems thinking and ability to handle highly interconnected architectures.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills across technical and non-technical groups.
• Strong ability to work independently and without supervision in complex environments, e.g. project or matrix organizations
• Flexibility and adaptability in response to changing project requirements and environments
• Ability to think strategically and align project goals with organizational objectives
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• High level of organizational discipline and ability to ensure technical and procedural consistency.
• Strategic mindset with tactical execution skills.
• Strong teamwork skills, with experience collaborating with diverse expert teams and complex project organizations
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Innovation mindset, encouraging and contributing to innovative approaches and solutions.
• Proactive approach, can-do mentality and ability to work autonomously
• Excellent analytical sense and ability to synthesize

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• University Degree in either Telecom, IT or Satellite Engineering
• Minimum 8 years of experience in participation (at least partially) in the design, development, implementation, testing, validation and operations of satellite and/or ground systems 
• Deep understanding of satellite system architecture, including space and ground segment interactions.
• Strong background in software development/integration projects and technical systems coordination.
• Proficiency in requirements management.
• Experience in institutional contracting (ESA, EC) is a strong plus.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are an asset

OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS 

• The candidate must be eligible for a “SECRET” security clearance, in accordance with the “loi modifiée du 15 juin 2004 relative à la classification des pièces et aux habilitations de sécurité”, as well as EU/ESA/NATO equivalents
• Willing to work at least 60% onsite from office
• Travel as required for project realization purposes