Engineering Operations Manager

Role highlights:

• Title: Engineering Operations Manager
• Department: Spacecraft Hardware
• Location: Espoo
• Reports to: Engineering Operations Management Lead
• Contract: Permanent
• Working style: Hybrid / Office]
• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO)

The Mission of Engineering Operations Manager

Support cross-functional engineering teams with clear accountability, decisive coordination, and proactive risk management to ensure seamless execution of complex space system projects. Drive disciplined planning, effective decision-making, and consistent Design-to-Build (D2B) process adoption to deliver high-quality results while fostering a motivated, collaborative team culture.

Who We Are

ICEYE delivers space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to governments and allied nations. This includes sovereign and turnkey ISR missions leveraging ICEYE’s world-leading synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, as well as access to data from the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation. These capabilities enable partners to detect and respond to critical changes anywhere on Earth with unprecedented speed and accuracy – day or night and in any weather, supported by ultra high-resolution imagery and high-frequency revisits.

As a trusted partner for defense, intelligence, security, and maritime domain awareness, ICEYE’s near real-time data creates a tactical advantage for mission-critical operations. Designed for dual use, the platform also serves civil protection and commercial users for natural-catastrophe intelligence, insurance, maritime monitoring (including oil-spill detection), and finance, contributing to global security and community resilience.

ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, Japan, the UAE, Greece, and the US. The company has more than 900 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation.

Why should you work for us?

ICEYE is at the cutting edge of new technology and we are continuing to build and operate our commercial constellation of SAR satellites. Working with ICEYE, you will be part of making the impossible possible, whilst shaping the Earth Observation industry. You will work with varied, diverse and engaged colleagues to further the ICEYE mission. At ICEYE we realise that without great people we can not succeed, therefore you will be an integral, valued and appreciated colleague, with the ability to directly shape the vision and direction of the business.

We actively support Continuous Professional Development, and will provide access to a range of avenues to allow you to succeed, including courses, training and attendance at conferences. ICEYE is a place where your development, your growth and your success is a priority.

Requirements:
Expected Outcomes & Requirements

ICEYE’s growing portfolio of high-impact programs requires dedicated leadership for select critical projects. While Directors oversee many initiatives and engineers lead most development work, the Engineering Operations Manager (EOM) will take charge of key efforts such as next-generation satellite designs and major technology upgrades, coordinating subsystem owners and assigned engineers.

The EOM is accountable for project execution and has authority over allocated resources. They propose project timelines aligned with organizational needs, request appropriate resourcing, and then own and manage the schedule across engineering teams.

For other space-system projects, the EOM proactively identifies bottlenecks, escalates challenges with recommended actions to Directors or VPs, and ensures alignment with organizational objectives.

The EOM facilitates efficient technical decision-making by assembling the right experts, resolving most issues directly, and involving Directors or senior leadership when decisions carry major implications.

They use available tools to motivate teams and enable project leads to work effectively. Delivering a project at the cost of team morale or collaboration is considered a failure for the role.

Finally, the EOM owns the implementation of the design-to-build process, ensuring consistent quality and execution across all subsystem owners and project leaders.

Success requires comprehensive planning and foresight across the project lifecycle.

Project/Subsystem Leadership (Critical Planning Tasks)

• Perform work breakdown (WBS).
• Build, monitor, and maintain the project timeline.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks proactively.
• Ensure documentation is in place and aligns with D2B standards.

Enabling Other Project Coordinators & Subsystem Owners

• Run the project management process, including resource allocation and reporting.
• Develop ways to share best project management practices.
• Aligning with the supply chain on prioritization of orders and providing visibility on critical items.

Essential Qualifications and Traits

• Technical Acumen: Able to understand the technical requirements and complexity of the project and dissect what the main bottlenecks and challenges would be.
• Hands-on Experience: Possess hands-on experience and knows how long things take because you have done them or worked closely with stakeholders.
• Risk Management: Able to understand where to take risk and comfortably take that risk when needed for project success.
• Contingency Thinker: Know that the project needs a Plan A, B, C, D... and is always ready to change direction to succeed.
• Proactive Drive: High energy and drive; you respond to challenges by saying, "let me take a look," and immediately devise a plan with compromises to achieve success.

Key Competences

In addition to the requirements above, we evaluate candidates on these key qualities throughout the hiring process:

• Intellectual Firepower: Rapidly comprehends, structures and synthesizes complex information, draws accurate conclusions, and communicates them with clarity.
• Passion & Work Ethic: Brings sustained motivation, resilience, and high personal standards to every challenge.
• Ownership & Action: Assumes full accountability for outcomes, acting decisively, and ensuring commitments are delivered.
• Team Player: Works collaboratively across teams, contributing to shared success, and engaging in constructive debate.
• Integrity & Growth Mindset: Operates with transparency and humility, learns from setbacks, and actively seeks opportunities to grow.

Application Process

• Recruiter Interview
• Hiring Manager Interview
• Managerial Task
• Peer Interview
• Stakeholder Interview