CV: Avionics Project & Procurement Manager

2006 - date

AIRBUS DEFENCE & SPACE (formerly Astrium ltd), Stevenage, Herts

2016-date

Avionics Manager, Biomass Project

Appointed to this role in May 2016, reporting to the Programme Manager, responsible for the delivery of the spacecraft avionics system for a €240M forest remote sensing satellite.  My remit includes the management of a transnational multifunctional team based in France, Germany and the UK as well as representing the Prime project on all technical and programmatic aspects with the avionics development team.

Key responsibilities include:

Definition of Prime System Specifications and verification strategy from customer specification and applicable standards;

Requirements capture, definition, flow down for the overall spacecraft avionics including multiple interface requirements definition;

Coordination of multifunctional and transnational development teams;

Project schedule, cost & risk management;

Regular project progress reporting for both internal (project, department and business unit level) and external stakeholders;

Key Interface/Input Data (KID) definition, management and coordination across various development teams;

Supporting lower-tier subcontractor management processes according to (space) industry standards;

Leading customer major reviews;

Significant achievement in the role:

Establishing a fully transnational integrated team, including subject matter experts, working as one and completing successful major programme reviews (SRR, PDR);

Management of the delivery of the entire avionics system on behalf of the Prime project team;

Implementation of product policy with institutional customer typically adverse to such approach;

2015-2016

Avionics Manager and Supplier Operation Manager, AirbusDefence and Space

Appointed to a dual role, covering technical design lead and subcontract management with responsibility for the delivery of key Rover Drive unit (€9M) and Mars terrain testing infrastructure and verification campaign (€2M), both part of the ExoMars Project (>€350M, ESA programme)

Key responsibilities:

Definition and maintenance of the locomotion subsystem requirement baseline and verification campaign requirements;

Definition of subsystem operational concept, use cases and interface specification liaising with multiple discipline teams; 

Management of the external procurement of the Rover Drive Unit and Mars terrain testing infrastructure and verification campaign.

Management of the full subcontract life cycle, following contract award, including contractual baseline management, requirement change management (via contract change request), management of contractor change notices and claims, management of contractor requests for programmatic or technical waivers or deviations (RfW, RfD);

Significant achievement in the role:

Successfully regaining full trust and engagement with both subcontractors and end customers, providing a clear roadmap definition for achieving project milestones and deliveries.

2010-2015

Avionics Manager and Subcontract Manager, Airbus Defence& Space

Working on the Solar Orbiter Project (€250M, ESA programme), in a dual technical design lead and subcontract manager role responsible for the delivery of the key avionics subsystem (€30M).

Key Responsibilities:

Definition of the overall subsystem architecture, system specification and verification approach;

Characterisation and definition of subsystem interfaces to all other spacecraft systems 

Management of the external procurement of the avionics subsystems involving up to 7 different contractors, based across Europe covering HW and SW contracts;

Management of all subcontract initial stages from the definition of System Specifications and Statements of Work through to contract award (in accordance with ESA Best Practices);

Management of the full subcontract life cycle, following contract award, including baseline management, requirement change management, management of contractor change notices and claims, and management of contractor requests for programmatic or technical waivers or deviations (RfW, RfD);

Significant achievement in the role:

Ensured AOCS development reached maturity necessary for major programme review (CDR), providing stability whilst the consortium underwent a significant restructure.

2006-2010

Avionics Technical Lead, Airbus Defence& Space

Working on the Aeolus project (ESA programme) as Avionics technical lead in a multi-discipline team in charge of the design/development/verification cycle of the spacecraft Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem.

Key Responsibilities:

Management of the design and verification team for the delivery and qualification of the AOCS subsystem.

Significant achievement in the role:

Successful delivery of fully qualified AOCS subsystem to ESA customer satisfaction in a timely fashion.

2002-2006

Avionics Technical Lead, Astrium Ltd (later Airbus Defence and Space)

Technical lead for avionics R&D studies on a number of space based applications such as integrated sensors development, solar sail control techniques, formation flying and autonomous obstacle avoidance

1999-2002

MEGGITT AVIONICS UK

Software and R&D Lead Engineer

Responsible for Safety Critical Software requirement definition, SW design and production of primary and secondary digital flight instruments for a number of commercial aircraft companies.  Technical lead on a number of R&D programs.