Hardware Architect and Product Owner (Hybrid)

Location: Madrid, Spain

Thales people architect identity management and data protection solutions at the heart of digital security. Business and governments rely on us to bring trust to the billons of digital interactions they have with people. Our technologies and services help banks exchange funds, people cross borders, energy become smarter and much more. More than 30,000 organizations already rely on us to verify the identities of people and things, grant access to digital services, analyze vast quantities of information and encrypt data to make the connected world more secure.

Thales in Spain is a leader in technological solutions applied to Defence, Aeronautics, Security, Transportation and Space and, furthermore, is a global centre for excellence in Space, Security of Critical Infrastructures and Transportation. With a turnover of €320 million and a staff of 1,200, it exports approximately 40% of its total production principally to the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.

Thales Cybersecurity & Digital Identity is a global leader in digital security, bringing trust to an increasingly connected world. We design and deliver a wide range of products, software and services based on two core technologies: digital identification and data protection.

With the massive surge of electronic travel documents and national eID cards, Thales Digital & Security is supporting border agencies, government authorities and airports to exploit technology convergence to gain consistent, comprehensive border, visa management and document verification worldwide, that will:

• Deliver seamless travel with border control applications
• Offer convenience for travelers for fast and secure border crossing
• Improve border intelligence for detection and prevention, including some of the most disruptive new technologies like biometrics, machine learning, or micro services.

As a Hardware Architect & Product Owner:

• You will oversee the design, development, and lifecycle management of hardware products, ensuring alignment with both technical requirements and business goals.
• You will act as the key decision-maker for hardware architecture while prioritizing and managing the product backlog to deliver customer-centric solutions.

A week in the life of a Hardware Architect & Product Owner:

• Design and define the high-level hardware architecture for new products, ensuring scalability, performance, and compliance with industry standards
• Evaluate and select components and technologies, balancing cost, performance, and availability
• Create detailed component-level architecture and documentation, collaborating with engineering teams to ensure alignment
• Act as the primary liaison between Hardware Engineering team and stakeholders, translating market needs into actionable technical requirements
• Make trade-off decisions between scope, time, cost, and quality, ensuring alignment with business objectives
• Collaborate with PLMs, System Architects, Project, Delivery and SW R&D teams to ensure the hardware aligns with the overall system and product strategy
• Work closely with the Purchasing team to identify and secure components that meet lifecycle and cost constraints
• Partner with the HW Quality & Process Engineer to ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards
• Conduct EOL risk assessments and develop mitigation plans for hardware components and technologies
• Lead firmware updates for hardware components, ensuring compatibility with evolving system requirements
• Monitor and address post-deployment performance issues, ensuring continuous improvement of hardware products
• Drive innovation by staying abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies in hardware design
• Contribute to the long-term hardware strategy, aligning with the organization’s vision and goals
• Provide technical and product insights during customer presentations, RFP processes, and strategic discussions.

To succeed at this job, you must have:

Education:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Mechanical / Electrical / Optical / Electronics Engineering

Experience level:

• Proven experience (8+ years) as Product Architect, Product Owner or IVVQ Engineer.

Competences:

Technical / functional skills:

• Strong knowledge of embedded systems, hardware design, and firmware/software integration
• Experience with component selection, HW-SW integration, and interface specifications
• Expertise in system modeling and simulation tools for validation and verification
• Familiarity with industry standards and compliance requirements for electronics products
• Leadership skills to guide teams and influence stakeholders effectively
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work efficiently in a dynamic environment
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders
• Detail-oriented with a focus on ensuring the reliability and performance of integrated systems
• Familiarity with regulatory processes and certifications in the electronics industry
• Familiarity with the Design-to-cost and Ecodesign concepts
• Fluent Spanish & English (written and spoken)

Behavioral skills:

• Ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities and projects concurrently
• Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Ability to make strategic decisions and leading their execution
• Ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers and partners

Any of the following is a plus:

• Experience in design, production or deployment of systems like ATM, Border eGates, Self Service Kiosks is a strong advantage

What do we offer?

• Flexible working hours.
• Intensive working days on Fridays and during August.
• Remote-friendly - 2 days a week working from home.
• Restaurant allowance and social benefits (health insurance, kindergarten).
• Free coffee on-site!

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Thales is a company committed to equal opportunities between women and men, and for this reason, we work to raise awareness and disseminate information on the subject both internally and externally.

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At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!