Project Manager Industrialization

About Antwerp Space

Antwerp Space is a leading Belgian space engineering company and an industrial player well-recognized by the European Space Agency and the European Commission. Antwerp Space has an established presence in the European space market and in several cases is taking the lead in technically complex space projects, supported by a consortium of partners from all over Europe. The company employs highly skilled engineers and technicians from all over the world, the majority of whom hold an engineering degree, with strong expertise in the areas of digital signal processing, hardware and software design, as well as in project management and technical leadership.

OHB SE Group

Antwerp Space is part of the OHB SE group, one of Europe's success stories in the field of contemporary space. Today it can call itself the third largest space group in Europe. The OHB SE group has been growing at a steady pace over the last three decades and its footprint in Europe has continuously expanded. Nowadays, there are subsidiaries in Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Luxembourg, Greece, the Czech Republic and Belgium. Despite its size, OHB SE is still a family business, run by the Fuchs family.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager Industrialization to take the lead in the (recurring) production of our flight equipment. In this role, you'll be the bridge between design and production: you make sure that every piece of hardware we develop can be built on time, within budget and according to the strict quality requirements of our customers. You will lead our industrialization team, a group of specialists in procurement, EEE components, PCB manufacturing, PCB assembly and quality inspection. You'll steer this team through influence rather than hierarchy. You will act as the first point of contact for our project managers, advising them on production inputs and the processes to follow. From the early design phase of new developments, you'll be involved to safeguard design-for-cost and design-for-manufacturing, and to adjust course where needed. Externally, you will build and maintain strong relationships with our production subcontractors and suppliers and align processes with them. You report to the COO and work in close contact with our business development team. Every day will bring fresh challenges and exciting opportunities. Joining our team means becoming part of a dynamic, experienced and forward-thinking organization committed to pushing the boundaries of space exploration

Your responsibilities

• You lead the industrialization team through influential, non-hierarchical leadership.
• You manage production-related investments.
• You support project managers in reviewing designs for design-for-cost and design-for-manufacturing, and in setting up production cycles.
• You set up internal production processes, as well as external processes with production subcontractors and suppliers.
• You take ownership of the correct definition of all production aspects within the projects assigned to you.
• You identify, monitor and mitigate production risks, and report on them.
• You maintain and improve flight production processes (ECSS / EN9100), aiming for faster delivery and better financial results.
• You embed knowledge and experience within the department through lessons learned, checklists and well-structured systems.
• You safeguard the quality of the department.

Mandatory Requirements

• You have or will acquire an EU security clearance (EU citizen, or eligible for citizenship and living in the EU for at least 10 years).
• You have a Master's degree in Telecommunications or Electronics Engineering, or equivalent through relevant work experience.
• You have at least 5 years of experience in a similar role and are familiar with the quality requirements of the European Space Agency (ESA).
• You are willing to work in Belgium and to travel regularly (a few days per month) to external partners in Belgium and abroad.

Technical Requirements

• You have thorough, hands-on knowledge of the industrialization of (electronic) equipment.
• You have a good knowledge of the ESA ECSS standards for flight production.
• You have experience in maintaining and improving production processes in a quality-driven environment (ECSS / EN9100).
• You are aware of production risks and know how to anticipate and mitigate them.
• You keep your technical knowledge up to date and like to share it with others.
• Experience with EEE components, PCB manufacturing and PCB assembly is a strong plus.

Soft Skills

• You have a go-and-get-it mentality: you are a self-driven, autonomous and proactive manager.
• You are approachable and a natural point of contact for colleag