Technology & Development Manager

Thales is a global technology leader trusted by governments institutions and enterprises to tackle their most demanding challenges. From quantum applications and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and 6G innovation our solutions empower critical decisions rooted in human intelligence. Operating at the forefront of aerospace and space cybersecurity and digital identity were driven by a mission to build a future we can all trust.

Overall Purpose of the Role

The Technology & Development Manager leads cross-functional activities to bring products from design to stable mass production. This role owns NPI (New Product Introduction) manages material/BOM changes and drives AutoProd (Authorization for Production) readiness to ensure operational robustness quality assurance and compliance with manufacturing standards. The Industrialization Manager ensures that factory readiness process capability and documentation are aligned for controlled production release and successful ramp

Key Responsibilities

The job holder shall at all times during employment with the company respect and comply with the Thales Quality Health Safety Environmental & Security requirements during the performance of his/her duties

Leadership & People Management

• Lead and develop a small team of engineers (Manufacturing Engineers Industrialization Engineers or Process Engineers).

• Provide coaching technical guidance performance feedback and career development support.

• Allocate resources to NPI projects ECO validation AutoProd readiness and costreduction activities.

• Build strong engineering capability in process validation documentation and problem solving.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Own end-to-end NPI industrialization: gate reviews factory readiness and ramp-to-stable production.

• Drive cross-functional alignment on build schedules material readiness test strategy and quality gates.

• Monitor NPI KPIs (yield scrap OEE cycle time) and implement improvement plans to meet launch targets.

Material / BOM Changes (ECO & ECN)

• Govern the Engineering Change Order (ECO) process for materials specifications and process changes.

• Conduct impact analyses covering quality reliability cost capacity delivery and compliance.

• Ensure accurate PLM/ERP updates for BOMs routings work instructions and effective-dated changes.

• Drive communication of change readiness and cut-in planning across internal and external stakeholders.

AutoProd (Authorization for Production)

• Own the AutoProd process for controlled release of new build (devices) into production.

• Verify process capability and stability meet defined criteria prior to sign-off.

• Lead cross-functional closure of outstanding issues before granting production authorization.

Product Certification

• Lead product certification readiness for all new products and major changes (e.g. VISA Innovation Mastercard CSI).

• Coordinate with external laboratory identify applicable standards

• Ensure samples test plans and supporting documentation are prepared and submitted to certification bodies.

• Manage certification timelines to align with NPI and mass production schedules.

• Review test outcomes drive corrective actions for failures and ensure successful retesting.

• Maintain certification records and ensure factory processes remain compliant throughout the product lifecycle.

Cost Reduction Initiatives

• Lead cost reduction initiatives while safeguarding performance quality and reliability.

• Identify and evaluate alternate materials or components to reduce cost or mitigate supply chain risk.

• Partner with Supply Chain and Finance to quantify savings and validate cost models.

• Ensure documentation BOM changes and approvals are completed per process.

• Track cost reduction pipeline savings realization and implementation timelines

Job Requirements

Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

• Strong industrialization/NPI background with process validation expertise.

• Proficiency in PFMEA Control Plan APQP/PPAP DOE SPC and statistical analysis.

• Experience in product certification and regulatory compliance.

• Knowledge of alternate material qualification and cost-reduction engineering.

• Familiarity with PLM (Agile/Windchill/Teamcenter) and ERP (Oracle).

• Strong data analytics skills using Minitab JMP Power BI or Excel.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Proven experience leading small engineering teams.

• Strong communication stakeholder management and cross-functional influence.

• Effective problem-solving (8D DMAIC 5-Why) and decision-making under pressure.

• Ability to manage multiple programs concurrently.

Behavioral

• Collaborative leadershipable to influence without authority.

• Continuous improvement mindset

Education qualifications and special training

• Bachelor Degree in Electrical Microelectronic or Mechanical Engineering.

Experience

• 5 years of experience in NPI/industrialization/manufacturing engineering.

• Experience managing engineers or leading project teams.

• Certifications such as Six Sigma Green/Black Belt PMP or CQE preferred.

At Thales were committed to fostering a workplace where respect trust collaboration and passion drive everything we do. Here youll feel empowered to bring your best self thrive in a supportive culture and love the work you do. Join us and be part of a team reimagining technology to create solutions that truly make a difference for a safer greener and more inclusive world.