Laboratory Manager / AIT Technician full_time

For those who dream of advancing our space in the Universe and on Earth, we’ll take you there.

MDA Space is an international space mission partner and a robotics, satellite systems and geo-intelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. With 3,000+ employees in Canada, the US and the UK, MDA is leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more. MDA enables highly skilled people to continually push boundaries, tackle big challenges, and imagine solutions that inspire and endure to change the world for the better.

The UK division of MDA Space was formed in 2005, and has developed a portfolio of sensors and communications terminals aimed at the institutional and commercial New-Space sector. The MDA UK ‘Colka’ communications terminal is now installed on the ISS. The FLARE laser rangefinder, the LEIA LIDAR and the LWIR camera are all heading to orbit and/or the moon on numerous missions scheduled for the next two years. MDA UK has recently moved into new purpose-built facilities which includes labs and clean rooms to support our sensors, communications and robotics development and production.

We’re on the hunt for a Laboratory Manager / AIT Technician for the Satellite Systems Team at our Harwell Campus site near Oxford.

MDA Space’s international footprint in the UK creates opportunities to work with some of the most exciting space industrial players in the country. Delivering all three business area capabilities in Geointelligence, Robotics & Space Operations, and Satellite Systems, our UK team provides support to our UK and European-based customers while specializing in the development of advanced space sensors for exploration missions as well as space-based communication technology. As our presence grows overseas, so does our need for new ambitious team players to help us advance our place in the Universe and beyond.

Role:

This role provides an exciting opportunity to join our small and enthusiastic UK Team developing equipment and sub-systems for multiple Space Missions. The role will be split between Laboratory and Assembly Integration and Test (AIT) duties.

 Responsibilities:

• Day to day running of MDA’s Laboratory, Workshop and Cleanroom:
  • Organisation and maintenance of equipment
  • Equipment calibration
  • Maintaining laboratory inventories
  • Procurement of equipment and consumables
  • Cleanroom maintenance
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Stores management
  • Training lab users and ensuring compliance with lab and equipment procedures and processes
• Assembly Integration and Test Technician (AIT)
  • Goods-in inspections
  • Kitting builds
  • Flight and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) manufacture
    • PCB assembly; Surface Mount (SM) and Through Hole (THT) soldering
    • Harness manufacture
    • Assembly of flight equipment, including sensitive optical instruments
    • Supporting manufacturing reviews
  • Supporting test activities
  • Supporting Manufacturing and Test Readiness Reviews (TRR)
• Providing clear documentation

Required Skills:

• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to follow and enforce laboratory procedures
• Soldering experience
• Knowledge of standard laboratory equipment (Oscilloscopes, Digital Multimeter (DMM) etc.)
• Experience working in manufacturing and test facilities
• Ability to follow manufacturing processes and apply rigorous build standards
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Useful Skills:

• BTEC in engineering or equivalent
• An understanding of the space operating environment and the resulting requirements on our Lab and AIT practices
• Enthusiastic about space exploration
• Experience with optical sensors
• Clean room experience
• Awareness of engineering standards (preferably ECSS)

MDA Team:

We are a team of purpose-driven, collaborative and passionate people, and we are constantly looking for others to join #TeamMDA to ignite new and innovative approaches to problem-solving that push us forward to improve life on and above Earth. If you’re excited to expand our place in space and driven to inspire the next generation, we can take you there. 

Benefits statement:

MDA provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. As a team member of MDA, you and your qualified dependents are eligible to participate in a benefit programme including health and pension plans.

Equal opportunity statement:

MDA is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.

COVID statement:

COVID-19 Hiring Update: Strengthening our workforce is more important than ever to meet our customers’ mission-critical needs. We are continuing to hire many talented people, and we are closely monitoring COVID-19 to ensure safe hiring practices are used. This includes limiting onsite candidate interviews and prioritizing video interviews.

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