Optronics Research And Technology Business Manager

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Optronics Research and Technology (R&T) Business Manager

Location: Reading, Bristol or Crawley

Hybrid Working (Minimum 3 days at office)

• Are you an inquisitive individual with a passion for Research and Technology and have an optronics and ideally a machine learning and/or artificial intelligence background?

• Are you interested in a technical Business Development role with a defence bias?

• Are you looking for your next challenge and an opportunity to work within a dynamic and highly regarded team that will support you with your learning and development?

The Opportunity:

Thales OME (Optronics and Missile Electronics), based across its Reading and Glasgow sites, designs and builds electro-optic sighting systems, imagers and sensor systems, with many varied applications across land, maritime and air domains. This is a fantastic opportunity to join the Research and Technology (R&T) team as a Business Development Manager. The R&T team are proactive, engaged and enjoy working collaboratively together. The role offers an exciting and varied opportunity to help support the strategic direction of Thales OME, helping to support the future development of innovative electro-optic systems.

Thales OME undertakes R&T projects to;

• gain up-to-date technical knowledge,
• assess the feasibility of potential design and solutions,
• help de-risk new products.

Our R&T activities span Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 to 6, involving;

• paper studies,
• laboratory studies,
• customer and internally funded projects,
• proof of principle concepts and prototype builds.

We are particularly interested in electro-optic sensors, imaging systems, optical design, algorithms, machine learning and artificial intelligence applied to imaging systems and emerging optronic technologies, all with a defence and security bias.

The ideal candidate will be located in the south of England with an ability to travel regularly to the Glasgow and Reading sites. The role also involves domestic and international travel to other Thales sites, as well as partner or customer sites in the UK (typically in the south east of England) and abroad if required.

Key responsibilities/tasks include:

• You will be working with the OME Technical Directorate, that has Chief Technologists across the OME product portfolio as well as collaborating with the Chief Product Line Engineers and Product Line Design Authorities. The role will be to look for funding opportunities to support the realisation of product line technology roadmaps.

• Liaise with Thales Research & Technology (R&T) teams across Thales, (OME business and others) and ensure a good relationship with KTDs (Key Technology Domains).

• Explore business opportunities with the wider customer community (Government MOD/Dstl/AHQ, Universities and other commercial businesses).

• Working with Sales Teams you will gain access to a wide range of key customers and be exposed to their thinking and requirements.

• Spot opportunities to win bids perhaps as part of a collaborative defence industry team.

• Be cognisant of the company processes and use them appropriately and efficiently.

• Represent the company on working groups and at conferences both internal and external to Thales.

About You:

Essential:

• At least 5 years of experience in optronics research, development and innovation.

• Master's degree in Physics/Electronics/Engineering or similar numerate discipline.

• Experience in the specification, design and development of Electro-Optic Sensors, ideally with Machine Learning and/or Artificial Intelligence

• Prior relevant domain knowledge and willing to adapt and learn about a wider variety of technologies that the business wants to develop.

• Experience of working with the UK defence/security industries and UK MoD.

• Good listening, verbal and written communication skills.

• Compiling quality presentation material and presenting clearly to customers and at conferences

• You will be a self-starter and have interest to explore existing and novel approaches to funding.

• Be a visionary, seeing the big picture and identify the smaller opportunities to develop product.

• Willing to travel as and when necessary.

Desirable:

• PhD in a subject related to; Electro-optics, Physics, Computer Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Vision, Robotics, Simulation, Opto-Electronics, Data Analysis, Engineering or Synthetic Data generation

• Prior experience in Technical Business Development/Sales.

• Prior experience working with UK Government (e.g. Dstl and/or MoD) and Universities.

Security Clearance statement

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years' residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency

• United Kingdom Security Vetting

• GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What We Can Offer

We're committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you'll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.

Flexibility:

Your health and well-being matter to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, hybrid working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Benefits at Thales:

Alongside a competitive base salary, we offer a variable compensation plan bonus and benefits package, which includes;

• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm

• Hybrid working

• Pension Scheme

• 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays)

• Life Cover

• Progression and Development Opportunities

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers

• Development focused targets and relocation support can be provided if required along with a variety of learning, development and career enhancement opportunities.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

#LI-RS1

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!