At the SKAO we are coordinating a global effort to deliver one of the largest science facilities on the planet. The SKAO telescopes will be next-generation instruments that will help to answer key questions in astrophysics, drive technological innovation and support human capital development.
More than a dozen partner countries and over a thousand scientists and engineers around the world are already on board, making the SKA project an international collaboration like no other, and one of the most ambitious science and engineering endeavours of the 21st century.
Headquartered in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO will be one observatory operating two telescopes, an endeavour spanning three continents. Multinational by design, in early 2021 the SKAO became an intergovernmental organisation, one of only a select handful of science infrastructures to do so worldwide.
Construction activities for the SKAO’s telescopes in Australia and South Africa started in 2021, along with a ramping up of SKAO staff in both countries. It is expected that the transition from the Construction Phase to the Operations Phase will happen around 2028.
SKAO Operations in South Africa will be conducted in partnership with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). SKAO Operations in Australia will be conducted in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The Observatory will also partner closely with a global network of SKA Regional Centres through which astronomers will access science data products and a suite of tools and resources to further analyse the SKA telescopes’ data.
For more information on the SKA project visit https://www.skao.int/
The SKA Observatory offers a competitive salary and a generous pension and benefits package. As an employee of an intergovernmental organisation, an appointee who is not a national of the country in which the role is based may be subject to personal Privileges and Immunities.
A fantastic opportunity for a talented and motivated Senior Product Manager to guide and support the development effort, delivering and maintaining the set of integrated products needed to successfully operate the SKA Mid telescope.
The Role
At the SKAO, Product Managers ensure progress and alignment with the project’s vision and milestones. This role involves guiding the delivery of the Mid Telescope software system, collaborating with Engineers, Product Managers, Architects, and Project Managers responsible for individual subsystems.
In this role, you will work closely with stakeholders across the SKAO to define, prioritise, and maintain high-level telescope goals, product strategy, and roadmaps. You will also manage requirements and use cases, influencing product direction, assessing and reviewing completed work, and clearly communicating product status. This will require developing a detailed understanding of how the SKA Mid telescope needs to operate across a set of development milestones leading up to steady state operations.
As part of a globally distributed team, you will foster a collaborative, transparent, and respectful environment that values diverse perspectives and contributions.
The successful candidate will able to be based either in the SKAO headquarters in the UK or in Cape Town, South Africa. The location offered will be decided based on individual circumstances and SKAO policy principles.
This role will be offered as a fixed-term contract for a period of three and half years.
SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory.
This role requires the postholder to work across different time zones. In line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported subject to agreement with the line manager.
Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties
As a product manager for Mid Telescope software, you will work closely with engineers, architects, operations staff, and other product managers across the organisation to:
- Develop, communicate, and execute on the vision and strategy for the SKAO Mid Telescope system.
- Synthesise user insights to maintain and update actionable product requirements, user stories, and product specifications aligned to formal Telescope requirements, highlighting changes as needed.
- Communicate product roadmaps, releases, and value propositions aligned with telescope integration, commissioning, and operations schedules.
- Within the quarterly development cycle, manage the development and prioritisation of the Mid Telescope goals and associated product backlogs.
- Enable and support engineering teams in the execution and delivery of products, working closely with other Product Managers, Release Managers, and stakeholders to review, assess and accept work being delivered and make adjustments to continually refine and drive improvements to product delivery strategy.
- Occasionally travel nationally and internationally as required, on average, 4 times per year.
Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Substantial experience of Product Management, Product Owner, or similar experience in a relevant domain, with a track record of successfully delivering software products
- A strong technical understanding of the operation of radio telescopes or similar large scientific facilities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to convey and influence decisions and priorities on complicated topics in easily understandable terms to a diverse set of stakeholders.
- The ability to navigate and execute amidst ambiguity and adapt swiftly to different domains based on the problem at hand, finding simple, easy-to-understand solutions
- Understanding of Agile practices, including the importance of customer focus and a pragmatic approach to decision-making.
Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Postgraduate qualification in Astronomy, Physics, Computer Science or a closely related and relevant field, or equivalent experience in a professional scientific operational capacity.
- SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager or equivalent accreditation
Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement
SKA Observatory recognises that our diversity is a strength. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. As such, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the core of SKA Observatory’s agenda.
Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, nationality or background.
Women have traditionally been under-represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Observatory welcomes and encourages female applicants.
Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided.
SKA Observatory welcome all candidates, especially those from member countries.
The “How to Apply” information contained within the SKA Observatory recruitment portal provides more detail regarding our application and selection approach.
