IRIS² Subcontractor Manager – EU Communication Gateway (Ground Segment)

This is not a traditional procurement role. This is a programme-integrated leadership position where you will own subcontractor delivery performance and ensure that a complex, multi-partner industrial ecosystem delivers coherently and reliably against demanding technical, contractual, and programme objectives.
 
 This role is for you if you:

•  Have managed subcontractors or industrial partners in complex, high-value technical programmes
•  Thrive in coordinating multiple stakeholders across engineering, procurement, and programme management
•  Can translate contractual and technical requirements into structured execution across suppliers
•  Are comfortable driving performance, resolving issues, and enforcing accountability in multi-partner environments
•  Enjoy working in structured, compliance-driven environments with high expectations on quality and delivery

 

Requirements

• Proven experience managing subcontractors, suppliers, or industrial partners within complex engineering or regulated programmes
• Strong understanding of subcontract management across scope, schedule, cost, deliverables, performance, and risk
• Relevant experience in aerospace, space, defence, telecommunications, or other regulated technical environments
• Experience collaborating with procurement, contract management, legal, engineering, and programme teams
• Strong capability in structured execution, performance tracking, and reporting across multiple suppliers
• Excellent communication skills and ability to produce decision-support material

 
 Highly valuable:

•  Experience with satellite communications, ground segment, or network infrastructure programmes
•  Familiarity with ESA, ECSS, or EU institutional programme environments
•  Experience with supplier audits, quality assurance flow-down, and compliance management

 

Responsibilities

• Own and drive subcontractor delivery performance across assigned scope, ensuring alignment with programme commitments
• Define and implement the subcontracting strategy, partner model, and industrial organisation
• Drive and enforce subcontractor performance through KPIs, reporting, and structured governance
• Ensure contractual and commercial alignment, including milestone tracking and change control support
• Drive compliance and quality flow-down aligned with ESA/ECSS and programme requirements
• Identify, manage, and mitigate subcontractor risks, issues, and dependencies
• Act as central coordination point between subcontractors and internal stakeholders 

What success looks like:

• A clearly defined and well-functioning subcontractor ecosystem integrated into programme delivery
• Strong control over supplier performance, risks, and dependencies
• Subcontractors delivering in line with scope, schedule, cost, and quality targets
• High confidence in compliance, audit readiness, and acceptance processes

 

About SSC Space

Welcome to SSC Space (formerly Swedish Space Corporation), the perfect workplace for those passionate about technology in general and space in particular.
 
 With space organizations, research institutes, institutional and commercial actors as customers, we offer specialist expertise in satellite communications, spacecraft consulting services, rocket and balloon systems, and much more.
 
 SSC Space also has one of the world’s largest global networks of ground stations for satellite communications. We own and operate the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, northern Sweden, with the aim of launching satellites in the near future.
 

•  Are you fueled by a passion for collaboration and driven to deliver through strong industrial partnerships?
•  Are you ready to play a key role in one of Europe’s most ambitious space programmes?

 If you answer yes, we invite you to make a significant impact as IRIS² Subcontractor Manager – EU Communication Gateway (Ground Segment). 

We are looking for someone who shares our core values of Customer passion, Care, Collaboration, Curiosity, and Courage.