Job Description

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.



Our Global HQ is located near the buzzing city of Manchester at the historic Jodrell Bank Observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Cheshire countryside. It is home to a rapidly expanding international team of more than a hundred, working in a highly collaborative and inclusive way, in coordination with SKAO teams in Australia and South Africa as part of a global astronomy and engineering community.



Being part of Team SKA means contributing to something extraordinary: a uniquely exciting project to advance human knowledge that will last for decades. In return, we offer a diverse multicultural working environment, 30 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme, visa and support with relocation (if applicable), regular social events, a family-friendly environment and much more. Come and join us!



An excellent opportunity for a talented and motivated Product Manager to guide and support the delivery of the set of Science Data Processing (SDP) pipelines for the Mid and Low SKA Telescopes.



The role is internally known as SKA Operations Scientist/SAFe Product Manager.


The Role



At the SKA Observatory, Product Managers are at the heart of turning vision into reality. In this role, you will support engineering and development teams as they deliver the Science Data Processor (SDP) pipeline software for both the Mid and Low telescopes. Your job is to help teams ask the right questions and solve the right problems. The goal is simple: ensure that what we build addresses real scientific, operational, and technical needs while staying reliable, scalable, and robust.



You will work side by side with scientists, engineers, architects, and project managers to shape and maintain the product vision, strategy, and roadmap. That means capturing and refining requirements, defining use cases, and clearly communicating progress and priorities to stakeholders and engineering teams. To do this well, you will build a clear understanding of how the SKA telescopes work at different stages, from early construction and commissioning through to steady science operations. The better the understanding, the better the software develops in step with the telescopes.



Collaboration will be central to your success. You'll balance competing priorities across stakeholders, guide delivery in an agile, iterative environment, and keep teams focused on what matters most. You will also play a key role in reviewing and accepting completed work, with the emphasis on outcomes rather than outputs; i.e. ensuring that the delivery achieves the intended scientific and operational impact, not just that features are shipped.

This role is based at the SKAO Headquarters at Jodrell Bank, Cheshire, UK and is a one year fixed term contract.

We welcome applications from candidates of all nationalities, especially those from member countries. However, for this role visa and relocation support will not be available and applicants must be able to comply with the terms of a UK based local contract, details of which may be accessed on SKAO's recruitment portal.



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.



There may be occasions where this role requires the post holder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.



Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties


Define and manage the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for SDP pipelines, balancing scientific requirements, technical feasibility, and operational needs. Work closely with scientists, software engineers, system architects, and operations teams to shape priorities and guide delivery. Translate scientific requirements into clear product goals, impacts, and deliverables. Ensure that the pipelines integrate effectively with telescope systems, data archives, and international science data networks. Drive continuous improvement in pipeline reliability, usability, and scalability to meet the challenges of petabyte-scale data processing. Represent the product to internal and external stakeholders, providing clear communication of progress, risks and priorities.

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience


Strong background in Product Management or similar role, preferably in a large-scale scientific or technical domain Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to bridge the gap between scientists, engineers, and operations staff. Experience working with complex software systems and high-performance computing environments. Familiarity with radio astronomy, large-scale data pipelines, or scientific computing. Proven ability to deliver value in an agile, iterative development environment.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience


Experience in managing products in high-performance computing or large-scale data-intensive environments. Understanding of software engineering practices, including continuous integration, testing, and development Experience working in an international and multi-stakeholder environment Background in astrophysics, physics, or a related scientific discipline

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.