Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.

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.

In accordance with the rules defined within the UK Country Enterprise Rules, the role of the Maritime Autonomy Operational Capability Owner is to ensure that for both the near-term and future demands of the MMS business, the Operational Capability is designed and operated in accordance with internal and external processes, legislation and accreditations.

The Maritime Autonomy Operational Capability has 3 fundamental pillars of operation

• Governance (assuring that the capability is operated in accordance with internal and external legislation)

• (all quayside, harbor and sea based testing and trials)

• Exploitation (Ensuring that Turnchapel Wharf is recognized as the UK Centre of excellence for maritime autonomy systems, trials and qualifications)

The Maritime Autonomous Operational Capability Owner is accountable for both the Governance & Utilisation and supports the continued Exploitation of the capability.

• Key Responsibilities:

Governance:

• Responsible for defining and documenting the scope, including the physical boundary, of the Maritime Autonomy Operational Capability.

• Responsible for ensuring the governance of process, methods, procedures and tools deployed across all aspects of the operational capability.

• Responsible for engaging with the appropriate third party specialists to ensure that any changes to legislation are reviewed and acted upon.

• Responsible for ensuring that the necessary skills and competencies for SQEPs and users are defined and applied.

Utilisation:

• Responsible for ensuring that the Maritime Autonomy Operational Capability has a road map that meets the future needs of the business.

• Responsible for ensuring that all harbour and sea trials exercise areas are established in advance with the knowledge / approval of any relevant governing bodies (FOST, QHM, Plymouth Council, Coast Guard, etc.).

• Responsible for ensuring that the necessary service arrangements are in place to ensure that any defects are addressed and corrected without impact to the business needs and schedules.

• Responsible for ensuring that the all operations are assessed and are safe to use and assured through valid risk assessments.

• Responsible for ensuring the operating schedule includes all of the demands have an allocated window within the published plan.

• Responsible for ensuring that all the necessary facilities (buildings and services) are available and serviceable to meet the schedule.

• Responsible for ensuring that all the necessary equipment (STTE, tooling, handling aids etc.) are available, serviceable and within calibration to meet the schedule.

• Responsible for ensuring that there are enough staff with the correct skills, qualifications and accreditations to meet the both the immediate and future demands.

• Responsible for the identification of Opportunities and Risks and escalate them accordingly.

• Responsible for ensuring that any incidents are classified and managed. This includes the completion of root cause analysis and the implementation of subsequent corrective and preventative actions.

Exploitation:

• Responsible for proactively promoting Turnchapel Wharf as the UK Centre of Excellence.

• Building relationships with potential customers, partners and suppliers and acting as the point of contact within the Plymouth area.

• Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required - Essential

• Technical expert or operational expert

• SQEP for maritime autonomous operations.

• Capable of working in a matrix organisation and achieving accountability without direct line management responsibility.

• Demonstrable experience in stakeholder relationship management.

• A strong business acumen.

• Demonstrable experience in a

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work with people at all levels.

• Able to use initiative to solve problems as they arise and make difficult decisions when necessary.

• Knowledge of applicable legislation, standards and processes.

• Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required - Desirable

• Experience of working with defence organisations or military customers.

• Experience of autonomous systems.

• Operational experience of small boat piloting (12m).

• Operational experience in ROV piloting.

• Education & Qualifications

• Relevant Maritime, Royal Navy, RYA or related qualifications

• Related Professional Qualification and Membership of Associations.  

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. Great journeys start here, apply now!