ILS Defence Expert

About the role

Our client is looking for an experienced Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) Defence Expert to support a major defence programme based in Bremen. The ILS Defence Expert position plays a key part in making sure complex defence systems can be supported throughout their operational life, with a strong focus on maintainability, availability, reliability and logistics support planning. It is a role where early input pays off, because decisions made on supportability at the design stage shape how a system performs and what it costs to maintain for years afterwards. The contract is initially for six months, with the possibility of extension, giving you a clear period of work on a programme of real scale.

You will work within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, developing and managing Integrated Logistic Support activities across the lifecycle of highly regulated defence products and systems. Close collaboration with engineering, systems, service, training and customer stakeholders is central to the role, so that supportability requirements are built in from the early design phases and carried through to in-service support. The work spans the full lifecycle, so you will be involved from the first supportability discussions through to maintenance planning, documentation and customer reviews.

The role would suit a consultant with a solid background in defence programmes, who understands what military platforms, support solutions, documentation and long-term asset management demand in practice. As the programme moves through its milestones, you will be the person the wider team turns to for questions on supportability, helping them make informed decisions on design, maintenance and through-life cost. Working in a regulated environment, you will be expected to keep documentation accurate, traceable and aligned with the standards the programme and its customer require.

Main responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) plans and strategies that align with programme objectives and customer requirements
• Perform Logistics Support Analysis (LSA) activities throughout the project lifecycle, from early concept through to in-service support
• Conduct Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Testability (RAMT) assessments and feed the findings back into design decisions
• Develop maintenance concepts and supportability strategies for complex defence systems
• Create and manage technical documentation, maintenance manuals and support documentation to the required standards
• Support spare parts planning and provisioning activities, including defining support requirements
• Coordinate lifecycle cost (LCC) and through-life support analyses to give the programme a clear view of long-term cost of ownership
• Work closely with systems, hardware and software engineering teams so that supportability is considered at every design stage
• Contribute to training and service support planning alongside engineering and customer stakeholders
• Support customer reviews, design reviews and logistics milestones, preparing supportability evidence where required
• Keep ILS data and documentation accurate and up to date as the design and support solution develop
• Communicate supportability risks and recommendations clearly to engineering, programme and customer stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with defence industry standards and customer requirements

Requirements

Essential

• An ILS Defence Expert: Proven experience as an ILS Engineer, ILS Manager or Integrated Logistic Support Specialist
• Previous experience working on defence or military programmes
• Strong understanding of Logistics Support Analysis (LSA) and how it feeds into design and support decisions
• Experience with Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) methodologies
• Knowledge of maintenance planning and supportability analysis
• Experience producing technical documentation and support concepts
• Familiarity with defence engineering environments and programme lifecycles
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional engineering teams
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Fluent English

Desirable

• Experience with ASD S-Series standards
• Knowledge of S1000D, S2000M or related defence logistics standards
• Experience supporting naval, aerospace, land systems or defence electronics programmes
• German language skills
• Experience with Lifecycle Cost (LCC) modelling and analysis

The offer – ILS Defence Expert

• Freelance contract
• Initial 6-month engagement, with the possibility of extension
• Based in Bremen, Germany
• Competitive hourly rate
• The opportunity to support a major defence programme alongside experienced engineering and programme teams

This role offers the chance to contribute to the delivery and long-term support of advanced defence systems in a highly regulated environment. You will join experienced engineering and programme teams, and your input on supportability will have a direct effect on how the systems perform once they are in service. If your ILS experience matches what this programme needs, it is a role worth putting yourself forward for.

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