Engineering Operations Manager

Job description

- 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) WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS This role ensures complex space system projects are executed with clarity, accountability, and strong cross-functional coordination, reducing risk and enabling high-quality outcomes. By driving disciplined planning, effective decision-making, and consistent Design-to-Build adoption, it strengthens execution while fostering a motivated and 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 is headquartered in Finland and operates globally across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. We have more than 900 employees, united by a shared vision: improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation. REQUIREMENTS & EXPECTED OUTCOMES EXPECTED OUTCOMES 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. APPLICATION PROCESS - Recruiter Interview - Hiring Manager Interview - Managerial Task - Peer Interview - Stakeholder Interview WORKING AT ICEYE At ICEYE, you’ll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win. HOW WE WORK (OUR VALUES) Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way. - Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the why behind decisions. - See the big picture: Stay close to what’s happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others. - Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions. - Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift. - Have fun: What we do matters and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins. BENEFITS Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing, at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process. OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table. We’re committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us and we will do our best to help. Apply now to start your ICEYE journey and help us continue to make the impossible possible together. Read more about ICEYE and working with us at iceye.com http://iceye.com.