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[Technical Project Design Authority (PDA) – Solution Compliance & Technical Leadership]
Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom
About Thales Thales delivers cutting-edge defence mission system solutions for air, sea, and land—supporting military and intelligence operations worldwide. We combine innovation in aerospace, defence, security, and space to enhance global safety by meeting operational needs.
Thales prioritises your well-being and career flexibility. Benefit from part-time options, job-sharing, remote working, or flexible hours to align with your goals—your ambitions drive our support.
Primary Purpose of the Role
As the Project Design Authority (PDA), you will:
- Oversee solution compliance for hardware-led bids or projects.
- Serve as the primary technical leader, guiding technical direction within the bid or project team.
- Act as the lead interface between Thales and the customer, alongside the Principal Systems Engineer where needed.
Principal Relationships
Your role requires collaboration across:
- Technical teams: Designers (all levels), bid/project team members, testing, installation, planners, and specialists.
- Stakeholders: Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Executive Leadership (including Customer/Client Representatives, Domain, Country, or Technical Directors).
Key Responsibilities & Tasks
These tasks are guidance only—responsibilities may vary.
Technical Leadership
- Assess customer needs and evaluate solution architecture based on trade-offs.
- Ensure alignment between customer requirements, product policy, market trends (MTB strategy), and applicable laws.
- Review technical risks/opportunities, mitigate them with action plans, and balance schedules, costs, and customer-value alignment without compromising MTB strategy or quality.
Compliance & Decision-Making
- Verify production/service/maintenance aspects via collaboration with the Production Process/Technology Manager (PPTM) and Service Engineering.
- Integrate export regulations and Make-Team-Buy policies into procurement decisions.
- Confirm Engineering Environment (E2) adherence to company standards, schedule, and budget.
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Regulatory & Safety Compliance
- Ensure legal, security, HSE, and environmental standards are met in design.
- Lead certification activities for safety security compliance.
- Oversee approval of Design & Justification Files (D&JF) from Solution Architects (ARC).
- Validate integration/verification/validation qualifications as required.
Strategic & Analytical Skills
- Conduct Complexity Profiler analysis with ARC and Engineering Delivery Manager (EDM), addressing implications head-on.
- Escalate risks to decision-makers in Domestic Business Unit (DOBU) Technical Directorate.
- Lead project engineering reviews and sign off critical deliverables at key milestones (e.g., bid project phases).
- Interface externally with clients and internally champion systems engineering initiatives.
Career Growth Mindset
- Stay informed of targeted R&D advancements and emerging technologies.
Expected Competence Level
Skills
- Technical writing, communication, and presentation—encapsulate complex ideas for diverse audiences.
- Leadership & stakeholder management: Inspire collaboration, build trust, and negotiation across levels of the organization.
- Delivery excellence: On-budget, on-time execution with minimal compromise while maximizing margins and customer satisfaction.
- Resilience under pressure: Organized decision-making amidst ambiguity.
Experience
Technical Proficiency
Relevant engineering/lifecycle discipline expertise, focusing on:
- Technologies: Radio Communication Systems, Sonar, Processing, Outboard Hardware.
- Lifecycle Stages: Requirements Capture, Modelling/Analysis, System Design, Product Development, and IV&V (Integration Verification & Validation).
- Systems Engineering: End-to-end lifecycle expertise on complex systems.
- Critical Control Systems: Proven skills in control systems testing, validation, and operations.
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Desirable Specialisms
- Experience with low TRL (Technology Readiness Level) solutions or acting as a technical authority in research-phase projects.
Values & Behaviours
Our strength lies in accountability and adaptive collaboration. Develop your mindset through three pillars:
-
Think Big
- Imagine the Future: Design forward-thinking solutions that anticipate tomorrow’s needs.
- Inspire Engagement: Communicate vision transparently and involve stakeholders at every level.
-
Make It Happen
- Deliver Value: Prioritize customer intimacy and hold yourself accountable for creating thoughtful, impactful solutions.
- Agility: Challenge traditional processes and foster innovation to elevate outcomes.
-
Together
- Grow Self/ Others: Enable growth for teammates, shaping talent for collective success.
- Inclusivity: Partner with diverse perspectives to achieve common goals beyond internal boundaries.
Qualifications & Certification
Durability Requirements
- Sole British citizen from birth (due to Security Clearance restrictions).
- Security Clearance (SC) clearance required with no caveats and attainable prior to employment. Currently held is advantageous, but mandatory.
Educational Essentials
- **Related degree (BSc/MSc/integrated master) and CEng qualification for Chartered Engineers.
Preferred Qualifications
- HNC/HND/degree in a relevant field.
About Us
Thales is committed to **global mobility, offering career development opportunities across 68 countries. Whether you continue in your chosen field or pivot into scope, we facilitate flexible exploration of your expertise.
Why wait? Apply now and begin your journey as a technical leader of tomorrow.
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