Head of Electronics & software

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity.

HEAD OF ELECTRONICS & SOFTWARE

PURPOSE

We are looking for a Head of Electronics & Software to lead and develop the engineering capability behind some of the most critical systems in our spacecraft.

This is a senior leadership role combining people leadership, engineering excellence, organisational development and technical breadth. You will lead a multidisciplinary organisation spanning:

- Avionics, communications and electrical power systems

- Flight software (FSW)

- Guidance, navigation and control (GNC)

- Electrical wiring and interconnection systems (EWIS), including harness engineering

- Future projects and advanced electronics and software development

You will be responsible for ensuring our teams have the people, skills, processes, tools and engineering standards needed to deliver ambitious space programmes today, while building the capabilities we will need for the future.

This is not a role for someone looking to step away from engineering. We are looking for a leader who can engage credibly with highly technical teams, challenge constructively, develop strong technical leaders and help create an environment where exceptional engineering can happen.

MATRIX ORGANISATION

Our engineering teams work in a matrix organisation, combining strong functional leadership with project-based delivery.

As Head of Electronics & Software, you will lead the functional organisation, developing its people and capabilities while working closely with Project Managers, Project Chief Engineers, technical authorities and engineering Leads responsible for programme delivery.

You will:

- Lead and develop Project Leads, discipline Leads, Principal Engineers and transversal engineering resources

- Partner with project leadership to align capability, resources and priorities with programme needs

- Help teams navigate competing priorities across projects

- Ensure clear ownership and accountability between functional leadership and project execution

- Build an organisation capable of supporting multiple programmes as the company grows

Success in this environment requires collaboration, influence and sound engineering judgement rather than centralising every technical decision.

ROLE BOUNDARIES

This role owns the strength and effectiveness of the Electronics & Software organisation: its people, capability, engineering practices, tools, standards and functional budget.

You will create the environment in which our technical teams can perform at their best, providing mentoring, challenge and access to expertise while supporting technical and project leadership in making strong engineering decisions.

Project technical decisions and product technical authority remain within the relevant project and technical organisations. Your role is to ensure they are supported by a highly capable engineering organisation with the right expertise, methods and resources.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

PEOPLE, HIRING & ORGANISATION

You will build and shape a high-performing Electronics & Software organisation.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Owning workforce and headcount planning across the function

- Recruiting and retaining exceptional engineering talent

- Developing clear job families, role levels and assessment standards

- Partnering with Talent Acquisition, engineering Leads and hiring managers to maintain a high technical hiring bar

- Leading promotion, compensation and organisational planning within the function

- Building succession plans and reducing key-person dependencies in specialist areas

- Creating an organisation that remains lean, scalable and aligned with current and future programme needs

LINE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

Developing strong engineers and technical leaders will be a major part of the role.

You will:

- Lead and develop the managers, Leads and senior engineers within your organisation

- Establish m