Project Manager for CubeSat Mission

ABOUT THE ROLE

Applications are invited for a 23-month project manager position to lead the project management of both the consortium and project level and the Northumbria University team at work-package level. The successful candidate will work in the Department of Mathematics Physics and Electrical Engineering at Northumbria University, within the leadership and management team preparing an in-orbit demonstration mission for a novel laser communication system for CubeSats. For further information about the Northumbria Space Technology Laboratory see here: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/nstl

This position is funded by UK Space Agency with grant reference number (UKSAG22_0042). The project focuses on the design, testing, and build of hardware and software for two 6U CubeSats to launch into Low Earth Orbit and demonstrate the function of a free space optical link between CubeSats. The project is funded by the UK Space Agency and includes partners from Durham University, e2E Group and Smart Sentry SMS, as well as support from Lockheed Martin UK Space and the UK Space Agency. The post holder will be responsible for working with the UK Space Agency, project partners and Northumbria staff to deliver the project on time, within budget, and to the agreed performance levels of the final product. This will entail managing the schedule, risks, finances, workload, regulatory oversight, IP development, tendering/contracts and purchasing, logistics and reporting to the UKSA for the project. The project is funded by the UKSA for £5.8M budget from now until 31 March 2025 with the prospect of an extension into 2027 on securing further funding for launch and operations phases of the mission. The project consortium consists of 25 team members with a wide range of expertise ranging from lab technicians, software & hardware post-doctoral researchers, design electronic engineers, integration and test engineers, opto-electronic engineers, environmental engineers, PCB manufacturers, satellite manufacturers and administrative staff including procurement, commercial, legal and business development managers.

The ideal candidate should have experience and skills relating to project management of satellite or aerospace research and product development projects. Therefore, a qualification in professional project management is essential. A track record of professional experience in aerospace, satellite or laser free-space optics research and development projects is desirable. Experience working in UKSA/ESA/NASA funded projects is desirable. The role will include managing a diverse team of scientists and engineers across four project partners and several subcontracts to deliver a world-leading laser communication system. It is essential, therefore, that the post holder have strong interpersonal, communication (written and verbal), person management and time management skills. Some technical knowledge of aerospace or optical communication systems is desirable to allow smooth interaction with the team.

For informal enquiries about this post, please contact Dr Eamon Scullion on eamon.scullion@northumbria.ac.uk.

Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification.

Closing Date:  31 March 2023

ABOUT US

At Northumbria, we embrace tomorrow. We pursue new thinking, forge new partnerships, create, and exchange new knowledge, and find new solutions. Our inspirational academics, partners and students work together to tackle tomorrow’s challenges head on. We are ready for the future whatever it may hold. 

Awarded the title of University of the Year in the 2022 Times Higher Education Awards, Northumbria University is a research-intensive modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence. 

Northumbria recorded the biggest rise of any UK university for research power in the Research Excellence Framework for the second time in 2021 and is now ranked top 25 for this measure. 

One of the largest universities in the UK with over 37,000 students from 137 countries, filled with world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and students at the heart of an outstanding experience, Northumbria is a new kind of excellent university.  Discover more about us.  

Northumbria University is a great place to work.  We empower our exceptional people to achieve shared ambitions and promote a positive work life balance.  To say thank you, we offer a wide range of benefits including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, continued commitment to your learning and development and more. 

We are an on-campus organisation where colleagues work regular patterns of hours and on campus, with some flexibility on the timing of their hours and the location of their work in discussion with their manager. 

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our staff.  We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community.  The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme.  

The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.