Research and Technology(R&T) Business Manager

Job description

Location: Glasgow, 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.

Research and Technology(R&T) Business Manager

Location: Can be based in Glasgow or Reading

Hybrid Working (Minimum 3 days at office)

Are you an inquisitive individual that has a passion for Research and Technology? Do you have an interest in Technical Business Development? Are you looking for your next challenge with the opportunity to work within a highly regarded team that will support you with your learning and development? Then look no further.

Our Opportunity:

Thales OME (Optronics and Missile Electronics) designs and builds electro-optic sighting systems, imagers and sensor systems, with many varied applications across land, maritime and air domains based across our Reading and Glasgow offices. We have 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; obtain up-to-date technical knowledge, assess the technical feasibility of potential solutions and to 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.

Thales OME is particularly interested in electro-optic sensors and imaging systems, optical system design, algorithms and machine learning applied to imaging systems and emerging technologies related to these that can influence our future products.

This role will be primarily based on-site at either Glasgow or Reading. The role involves domestic and international travel to other Thales sites, partners or customers.

Key responsibilities/tasks include:

• You will be working with the OME Technical Directorate, that has Chief Technologists across the entire OME product spectrum plus collaborating with the Chief Product Line Engineers, Product Line Design Authorities (PLDA). 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, (Optronics and Missile electronics business, others) and ensure a good relationship with KTDs (Key Technology Domains).
• Explore business opportunities with the wider customer community (Government, 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 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:

• Strong technical background in research and innovation with 5 years of experience.
• Master's degree in Physics/Electronics/Engineering or similar numerate discipline.
• Experience in the specification, design and development of Electro-Optic Sensors
• You will have prior relevant technical knowledge but be willing to adapt and learn about a wider variety of technologies that the business wants to develop.
• 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 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 Government (e.g. Dstl and/or MoD), Universities and other Defence Industries.

Security Clearance statement

This role requires SC level security clearance (Either current or ability to gain full clearance is essential). For more information and guidance, please visit the UKSV website.

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.

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

• Pension Scheme

• 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays)

• Life Cover and private health 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!