Head of AIT

Location: Madrid Tres Cantos, Spain
A Joint Venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space is a global space manufacturer delivering, for more than 40 years, high-tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Thanks to our diversity of skills, talents and cultures, our customers (governments, institutions, space agencies, telecommunications operators), therefore have Space to Connect, Secure & Defend, Observe & Protect, Explore, Travel & Navigate.
Thales in Spain is a leader in technological solutions applied to Defence, Aeronautics, Security, Transportation and Space and, furthermore, is a global centre for excellence in Space, Security of Critical Infrastructures and Transportation. With a turnover of €320 million and a staff of 1,200, it exports approximately 40% of its total production principally to the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.

HEAD OF AIT

Primary Purpose of the Role

The AIT Team Leader is responsible for leading and developing the Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) team, ensuring the successful execution of integration, verification and testing activities throughout the lifecycle of space products and systems.

The role provides both technical and people leadership to a multidisciplinary team composed of AIT engineers and technicians, ensuring the availability of competencies, resources, tools and facilities required to meet programme objectives.

Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Project Management teams, the AIT Team Leader ensures the delivery of AIT activities in accordance with quality, cost, schedule and safety requirements while fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and technical excellence.

Key Responsibilities and Principal Tasks

Team Leadership & People Management

• Lead, manage and develop the AIT team, including engineers and technicians.
• Define team objectives, priorities and workload allocation.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and competency development activities.
• Conduct performance evaluations and development discussions.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability and continuous learning.

AIT Planning & Execution

• Ensure effective planning and execution of Assembly, Integration and Test activities.
• Coordinate integration, verification, validation and environmental test campaigns.
• Ensure the availability of facilities, GSE, tools and resources required for programme execution.
• Monitor progress, identify risks and implement mitigation plans to ensure delivery commitments are achieved.
• Support Test Readiness Reviews, Qualification Reviews and other programme milestones.

Technical Oversight

• Provide guidance and support for integration and test strategies.
• Ensure adherence to established AIT procedures, methods and standards.
• Support anomaly investigations, root cause analyses and corrective actions.
• Promote standardisation and continuous improvement of AIT processes, methodologies and tools.
• Ensure lessons learned are captured and deployed across the organisation.

Programme Support

• Act as the main interface between the AIT team and programme stakeholders.
• Support programme planning and resource allocation activities.
• Contribute to schedule definition and workload forecasting.
• Ensure alignment of AIT activities with programme objectives and customer requirements.

What we offer

• Flexible schedule, from 8 to 9.30 and 16.30 until 18h.
• Thales Concilia: a set of advantages and free services and others at reduced prices.
• Free and healthy canteen.
• Enjoy discounts and special promotions on products and services thanks to Club Ahorro.
• 22 working days of vacation, 6 days of free disposal and closing days that do not consume vacations at Christmas and Easter.
• Thales Flex: Personalized flexible compensation plan in which you can choose how to distribute your salary (health insurance, childcare vouchers, transportation and training).
• Annual bonus.
• Fixed profit bonus of 739,76€.
• Sharing Thales program: become a Thales shareholder.
• Hybrid work plan.
• Pension Plan with monthly contributions on your behalf to your Pension Plan.
• Wellness Plan: thematic webinars and access to our company clubs.
• Medical and physiotherapy service at the workplace.
• We continuously create an inclusive, respectful and cooperative environment.

At Thales Alenia Space we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales Alenia Space employing around 8,900 employees in 10 countries with 17 sites in Europe and a plant in the US, our mobility policy enables employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth #SpaceForLife. Great journeys start here, apply now!