Head, Satellite QKD Program

Location

Pan India

Salary

Not specified

Company

Akash pawar

Job description

Role & Company / Project Overview: India's pioneering cyber-security company is scaling its senior technical leadership and looking for exceptional leaders to head Centres of Excellence and strategic programmes. In this executive technical role, you will lead our satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD) programme—spanning space and ground segments, the optical link, and the hybrid key-management architecture—to deliver secure key exchange between distant nodes via satellite, heading one of the most ambitious quantum programmes in the country. Key Responsibilities & Daily Duties: • Define the satellite-QKD mission architecture, including payload concept, orbit and link geometry, and the ground-station network. • Lead the space-to-ground optical link design, including link budget, acquisition and tracking, and key-rate prediction under atmospheric and pointing losses. • Specify the on-board source/detector payload and radiation-tolerant control electronics. • Architect the end-to-end key-management scheme combining QKD with post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and trusted-node handling against the harvest-now-decrypt-later threat. • Manage strategic partnerships with satellite integrators and ground-segment providers, aligning closely with national space and security programmes. • Build, mentor, and lead a multi-disciplinary space programme team. Required Qualifications, Skills & Experience: • Space / Optical Link Systems: Robust systems background in free-space optical links, satellite payloads, or space systems engineering (strong free-space-optics or RF link engineers transitioning into space are encouraged). • Free-Space Optics: Expertise in telescope and beam-expander design, coarse/fine tracking, background-light rejection, and long-link timing synchronisation. • QKD or Link Physics: Satellite-QKD link physics and key-rate modelling is ideal; alternatively, strong link-budget and channel-modelling foundations. • Space-Grade Hardware: Deep understanding of radiation effects and mitigation, qualification standards, and low-power payload electronics. • PQC & Key Management (A Plus): Practical knowledge of hybrid keying, trusted-node security, and harvest-now-decrypt-later threat modelling. • Program Leadership: Proven background running multi-organisation national space programmes against government milestones and rigorous security reviews. • Project Management: Track record of running multi-workstream technical programs against government and commercial milestones; risk, dependency, and schedule management; stage-gate / TRL-based delivery. • Product Management: Capability to turn customer and stakeholder needs into actionable requirements and roadmaps while balancing technical, cost, and time-to-market trade-offs. • Stakeholder Engagement: Experience engaging government, academic, and industry partners, and representing the organization in technical reviews and tenders. • Communication & Technical Articulation: Demonstrated skill delivering clear technical decks and documentation for expert and non-expert audiences, with confidence presenting to evaluators, customers, and executive leadership. • Funding & Proposals: Experience supporting grant, tender, and funding submissions, including technical write-ups and detailed budget justifications. Working Hours, Shifts & Location Details: • Location: India • Full-time senior leadership position. Compensation & Benefits: • Compensation details are not disclosed in the job post. Application Instructions: • Interested and qualified candidates should send their comprehensive CV directly to the provided email address.