Team Lead​/Project Manager Optics Manufacturing Space bij Systems Engineering

About this position

Contributing to space technology innovations that benefit our planet. Envision it. Become a project manager optics manufacturing within space systems engineering at TNO in Delft. Emerging space-related technologies may hold the key to solving many of the societal challenges we face today. Encrypting communications, for example. Exploring the universe. Monitoring greenhouse gases. As a project manager Optics Manufacturing within Space Systems Engineering at the Netherlands’ leading research organisation, you can bring about profound change on our planet (and beyond).

At TNO, we are always reaching for the stars, exploring further than what is considered possible. Based in Delft, you will be part of an organisation that is not out to make a profit but instead uses innovation to help mankind take its next giant leap forward, one innovative step at a time. And with this also stimulating the Dutch economy.

As a project manager at TNO Delft, you will be responsible for ensuring that technology development projects as well as optics manufacturing projects are delivered on time and within budget, meeting the project goals with high quality. This can be space or ground based optical components. You can expect a variety of projects that are on the edge of what is technically possible today.

Best of all, your work will rarely be repetitive. Our projects are always innovative, always technically complicated, always changing and always challenging, with plenty of room for creativity. You will manage a multidisciplinary project team consisting of scientists, engineers, researchers and technicians as well as stakeholders in complex (inter) national coalitions. Typical customers will include internal TNO projects, existing partners in the institutional market and, increasingly, commercial businesses who enter the market for ground-based astronomy, satellite communication and earth observation.

Partners may include manufacturing companies (involved in the production of optical components), high tech companies (instrument integration) and universities that help TNO to do basic research. You will work alongside the TNO Optics Manufacturing Business Development Team, which is responsible for the commercial acquisition of projects. Proposal writing and occasional international travel is part of your job too. The role of Team Lead Optics Manufacturing is also part of this position.

This includes managing the Optics Manufacturing resources as well as the people of the group on a personal level and reporting to and working directly with the (deputy) Research Manager of Space Systems Engineering.

Learn more about TNO Optics Manufacturing and TNO Space Systems Engineering.

A proven track record managing projects and teams within the space domain or relevant areas. You have a finely-tuned political antenna and the ability to communicate on a strategic level with challenging partners. Though never rigid, you have strong communication skills and you are sharp, structured and pragmatic. You thrive when dealing with projects that have a lot of uncertainties due to the complex scientific problems that we tackle at TNO and the unique nature of our work.

• A higher professional education (HBO/BSc.) or university (WO/MSc.) degree in a technical discipline.
• At least 5 years of project management experience in the space domain or other similar relevant areas.
• Experience in working with different types of stakeholders such as space agencies (ESA, NASA) and (international) organizations or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience in working with industry, able to understand their needs and fine tune our project pace to the high demands of the field.
• Affinity with innovation and research.
• Ability and interest to develop new ways of working to ensure projects can be executed with short turnaround times.
• Excellent written- and oral communication skills.
• Working experience with Project Management methodologies .(IPMA, PMP, Prince2) is a plus.
• Experience working in a small series and/or prototyping production environment is a plus.
• Aff…