Product Validation and Qualification Team Leader F/M

Company

Alcatel Submarine Networks stands as an industry leader with over 850,000 km of optical submarine systems globally – that’s nearly 21 times the Earth’s circumference.

We cater to a wide range of needs: from traditional telecom applications and webscale service provider infrastructures to offshore oil and gas projects.

Post description

Purpose of the Job:

Role Overview:
Provide both line management and technical leadership to the Product Validation and Qualification 
team within the PFE R&D department. This includes overseeing system-level validation, product 
qualification activities for Power Feeding Equipment (PFE) products, and delivering Level 3 support for 
product continuation and manufacturing. This role is part of a structured succession plan for a senior 
member of the staff, requiring readiness to assume broader responsibilities in the future.

Context:
The PFE R&D team is responsible for both new product development and sustaining existing products. 
The team works in close collaboration with the NPI (New Product Introduction) department to ensure 
a seamless transition from development to production and support, in alignment with the ASN PLC 
process.

About the Product:
The Power Feeding Equipment (PFE) is a bespoke, mission-critical system designed to supply power to 
undersea communication cable systems. It converts low to medium voltage DC input into high-voltage 
DC output—up to 21kV at 2 Amps—requiring exceptional reliability and long operational life. The PFE 
system also includes supporting products such as the Cable Monitoring Unit (CMU) and the Cable 
Terminating Rack (CTR).

Responsibilities:

Team Leadership:
• Own and drive team KPIs aligned with organizational objectives and the Product Lifecycle 
(PLC) process.
• Lead a multidisciplinary engineering team (currently up to 5 members), including software 
test engineer, validation/qualification engineers and a lab technician.
• Manage prioritization, resource allocation, and project planning based on team skills and 
product and department goals.
• Manage:
o Work packages or tasks of team
o Ensuring/controlling team members deliverables for the project.
o Full verification and validation of all configured functions, together with parameters 
and data produced on the project.
• Forecast and manage team OPEX , CAPEX budget, R&D Test lab. 
• Handle team administration, including setting goals and conducting performance reviews.
• Ensure adherence to development standards and processes in line with QMS (ISO 9001:2015) 
and HSE standards.
• Maintain robust documentation, configuration management, and provide regular updates 
and reports to stakeholders.
• Stakeholder management (i.e. to provide overview of test strategy, progress, issues, risks and 
opportunities to stakeholders)
• Address and resolve team conflicts constructively.

Technical Leadership:
• Define and lead the test and qualification strategy, ensuring alignment with system 
architecture and product requirements to meet ASN and product quality KPIs.
• Define needs, architecture and follow-up implementation of product testbenches and analysis 
tools.
• Facilitate technical discussions to drive product and cross-functional engineering 
improvements.
• Investigate complex technical issues in collaboration with both junior and senior engineers 
and other departments.
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the team.

Individual technical responsibilities:
• Maintain a strong hands-on approach with the product, ensuring direct involvement in 
design, validation, and qualification activities.
• Review and approve technical decisions, ensuring design, development, and testing activities 
deliver high-quality, reliable products in line with the ASN PLC process.
• Stay current with technological advancements and drive innovation within the team.
• Bring ideas and lead initiatives to enhance product quality through process improvements, 
test automation, and adoption of proven technologies.
• Conduct and lead root cause analysis (RCA) for product quality issues.
• Oversee the creation and updates of product documentation, including installation and 
operations manuals, in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Deliver product training to internal teams such as PFE product trainers and customer service 
personnel.
• Analyse and report Defect Reporting Trend Over Time and dashboard from System 
requirements to System validation and lead action plan towards closure of defects.

Wanted profil

Technical Expertise
• Good knowledge of software, firmware, and electronics product design and development.
• Strong electrical and electronics analysis skills and good understanding of software/hardware 
integration.
• Good knowledge experience in product validation, testing, and compliance with certification 
standards such as high voltage safety, EMI/EMC regulations, temperature, humidity, 
vibrations etc.
• Experience working with external test /certification labs and internal stakeholders to achieve 
product compliance
• Defect management tools

Leadership Skills
• Proven ability to lead and mentor individuals and teams, managing multiple priorities 
effectively.
• Skilled in coaching, performance management, and fostering a high-performance, 
collaborative culture.

People Management
• Experienced in conducting one-on-ones, appraisals, and career planning.
• Adept at listening, providing constructive feedback, and supporting team development 
through training and knowledge sharing.
• Foster a culture of accountability and ownership by setting clear expectations, defining 
responsibilities, and ensuring follow-through on commitments

Qualifications:
• Degree in electrical/electronic engineering
• Extensive experience working in an engineering environment
• Desirable experience with systems / sub-systems integration, embedded equipment, electromechanical product development) in a highly complex and normative environment (High 
voltage, Automotive, railway, aerospace, defence, nuclear).
• Strong quality mindset with a consistent focus on compliance, reliability, and continuous 
improvement throughout the product lifecycle.
• Demonstrated hands-on leadership in managing teams for regulatory or mission-critical 
product validation and system qualification.
• Excellent communication and team leadership skills
• Proven experience in defining and implementing product verification and validation (V&V) 
engineering processes.
• Good knowledge of product qualification and certification processes within regulated 
environments.
• Good knowledge on end-to-end product development, covering electronics, embedded 
software, and product qualification/certification in accordance with EU standards.
• Familiarity with systems engineering concepts; practical experience is an advantage.
• Experience in designing software to meet security requirements is considered an advantage.
• Business Travel may be required

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