ICEYE is a Finnish spacetech company that builds and operates the world's largest SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation for persistent Earth observation and intelligence.
ROLE HIGHLIGHTS: - Role: Engineering Manager - New Satellite Build & Qualification - Department: Optical Systems - Location: Warsaw, Poland - Reports to: Director of Engineering - Working type: Hybrid - Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required) THE MISSION OF THE ENGINEERING MANAGER - NEW SATELLITE BUILD & QUALIFICATION In this role, you'll own the end-to-end execution of prototype satellite builds — from first subsystem assembly through functional and environmental qualification — and ensure each new generation reaches orbital readiness. You'll also partner with the Global Manufacturing Organization to transfer mature designs and assembly procedures, enabling reliable, scaled production across multiple sites. WHO ARE WE? 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. ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, Japan, the UAE, Greece, Germany, 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. DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES: - Build the team. Hire, lead, and grow a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians responsible for building and qualifying new subsystem and satellite generations. Hiring great people is a core part of the job, not a side hustle. - Own the build schedule end-to-end. Plan and execute prototype satellite builds, drive milestones, anticipate slips, and balance engineering rigor with aggressive timelines. - Run the full qualification campaign — functional testing, environmental testing (thermal-vacuum, vibration), and any sensor-specific verification — until the satellite is flight-ready. - Stand up the test infrastructure your team will depend on. Define, source, and build out the GSE, fixtures, harnesses, and test facilities needed to qualify each new generation. - Lead fast, rigorous problem-solving. When something fails on the bench or in the chamber, you're the one driving root-cause analysis and corrective actions — and feeding the lessons back into the design. - Drive design maturity, manufacturability, and testability before handover to Global Manufacturing. - Lead the transfer to Manufacturing. Hand over design data packages, work instructions, tooling, and assembly procedures to Global Manufacturing sites, and support them through first-article production and ramp-up. - Adapt and build out the build and qualification playbook for this product line — borrowing from what already works elsewhere in the company, and improving as we scale. - Report progress, risks, and key metrics clearly to senior leadership and program stakeholders. REQUIREMENTS: MUST HAVE SKILLS - You have an engineering degree (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related) — or equivalent work experience. - You bring significant hands-on experience in satellite AIT (Assembly, Integration, and Testing). - You have proven people-management experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams — including hiring and scaling teams from a small base. - You have a demonstrated track record of transitioning products from engineering prototype to serial manufacturing. - You have a proven track record of delivering on extremely short timelines — preferably in new-space or a similarly high-tempo environment — and you know how to balance engineering rigor with the realities of an aggressive schedule. - You're comfortable in ambiguity and energised by standing up new capability rather than inheriting a finished one. NICE TO HAVE SKILLS - Hands-on experience building, integrating, or testing optical satellites or optical payloads. - Strong understanding of space product qualification processes, including subsystems and complete satellites. APPLICATION PROCESS - Talent Acquisition Interview - Hiring Manager Interview - Technical Interview (onsite or virtual), including a Technical Challenge - Hiring Team Interview - Offer Decision 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 progr