MAIT Manager

About the Position

We are currently looking for an MAIT Manager to join our team in Delft. Do you want to lead the integration, testing, and verification of advanced optical communication systems for space applications? Can you translate complex system requirements into robust verification strategies and practical test approaches?

In this role, you will take technical ownership of the Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Test (MAIT) and verification activities for complex, high-reliability systems. You will define how systems are integrated, tested, qualified, and ultimately demonstrated to meet their requirements.

You will work across multiple engineering disciplines, connecting systems engineering, optics, mechanics, electronics, control, and software. From early development through qualification and acceptance, you will ensure that verification activities are structured, technically sound, properly documented, and executed effectively.

The role combines technical leadership with hands-on involvement in integration and test campaigns. You will guide engineers and specialists, make technical decisions during testing, and use verification results and lessons learned to improve both the product and the overall verification approach.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical MAIT and verification approach for optical communication systems, from early development through qualification and acceptance.
• Coordinate MAIT activities across engineering teams, disciplines, products, and locations, ensuring alignment and consistency in the verification approach.
• Define key integration and verification milestones and drive their execution.
• Lead and coordinate a focused MAIT team during the preparation and execution of integration and test campaigns.
• Translate system-level requirements into an end-to-end verification strategy, determining whether requirements are verified through analysis, inspection, demonstration, or testing.
• Define and maintain the verification matrix and overall test architecture across component, subsystem, and system level.
• Develop verification strategies, test plans, procedures, and test reports.
• Specify advanced test setups and measurement concepts for optical, control, mechanical, electrical, functional, and environmental performance.
• Define the technical approach for system integration, alignment, calibration, and testing, ensuring procedures are robust, repeatable, and suitable for high-reliability hardware.
• Act as a technical authority during assembly, integration, and verification activities, including decisions related to test readiness, configuration control, deviations, and technical issues.
• Review product designs from an integration, alignment, verification, and testability perspective and translate lessons learned into design improvements.
• Lead the technical interpretation of verification data and non-conformances.
• Drive troubleshooting and root-cause analysis and define corrective actions where required.
• Lead the verification of control algorithms, embedded software, and electronics, including closed-loop performance, stability, interfaces, fault handling, and functional behaviour at board, subsystem, and system level.
• Guide engineers and technical specialists within the MAIT domain, share best practices, and contribute to the development of mature and scalable verification processes.
• Ensure verification activities are properly planned, documented, tracked, and completed within agreed project timelines.

Requirements

• BSc or MSc degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a comparable technical discipline.
• Extensive experience with manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing of complex high-tech or precision systems.
• Strong experience with verification and validation of multidisciplinary systems, preferably within space, aerospace, semiconductor, defence, medical technology, or another high-reliability environment.
• Experience translating system requirements into practical verification strategies, verification matrices, test plans, and procedures.
• Experience defining and working with advanced test setups and measurement methods for optical, mechatronic, electrical, control, or environmental performance.
• Good understanding of multidisciplinary system integration, including precision alignment and calibration.
• Experience analysing test data, investigating technical anomalies, and leading root-cause analysis through to resolution.
• Experience with the verification of electronics, embedded software, control systems, or closed-loop systems is strongly preferred.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan verification activities, coordinate multiple stakeholders, maintain progress, and manage technical dependencies.
• Strong documentation skills and a structured approach to test preparation, execution, traceability, and reporting.
• Sufficient technical seniority to guide engineers, challenge technical decisions, and make informed decisions during integration and verification campaigns.
• Strong communication skills in English and the ability to explain technical decisions clearly to engineers, project teams, and other stakeholders.

We Offer

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge optical communication systems for space applications.
• Be part of a team that contributes to a safer life on earth by translating space data into valuable insights.
• Collaborative environment with multiple engineering disciplines.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.

About the Company

At S[&]T, we contribute to a safer life on earth by translating space data into valuable and actionable insights. We oversee data from instruments to application, and apply our expertise within our software frameworks, information products, and consultancy.

Our society relies on space and scientific instruments for climate change monitoring, navigation, defence, and national security, and other crucial services we all use in our daily lives. These instruments produce an enormous quantity of complex data, and our goal is to unlock its value.

We have more than 20 years of experience working on instrument calibration, the creation of data quality monitoring tools, the development of real-time data processing frameworks, and the development of application-specific algorithms. With this, we help organisations, governments, and industries to strengthen their information position and thereby improve their decision-making. We focus on the following domains: Space & Science, Defence & Security, Environment & Sustainability, and High-Tech Consulting.

How to Apply

Are you enthusiastic about becoming our new MAIT Manager? Apply via our application form, or send your CV and motivational letter directly to [email protected].

Kindly note that acquisition from third parties (e.g., agencies) based on this vacancy is not welcome.