Ioonos

IOONOS : What is your career development (educational and professional background)?

I am an engineer (Civil with specialisation in structural design), and I also have a degree in History of Art and an executive MBA by IESE. I have always worked as an engineer in the Aerospace field: I first worked for 20 years in a private company called SENER and now 3 years ago, I began to work for the Spanish Administration (Ministry of Industry). I started by calculating and designing structures and mechanisms for space applications, then I worked as Project manager for Space programmes and the latest part of my work for SENER was devoted to business development in the aerospace Department. At the moment, I work for the administration in the promotion of R&D for both Aeronautics and Space

IOONOS : What is your job title?

Director of Aerospace Programmes

IOONOS : What led you to do this job?

It was just by chance. A teacher of mine at the University worked for SENER and he proposed me to go there. I did so, and then I realised I had already been working in this company for 20 years. The job was interesting and environment and people were very nice and this led me to continue in the same company for so many years.

IOONOS : What does your job consist in?

Our objective is to increase the technological level of the Spanish companies working for Aeronautics and Space. We do this by investing in R&D and also by promoting the participation of our companies in important international programmes. As part of this activity, we have the representation of the Spanish Government in the European Space Agency (ESA); also we participate in the so called Airbus Intergubernamental Committee (AIC) which includes the four founding countries of the Airbus Programme (F, G, UK and Spain), etc. A significant part of our job has to do with representation of Spain in International organisations and the other big part is related to discussions and negotiations with Industries in the Aerospace field. What kind of equipment do you use and in what kind of environment? I do not know if this question specifically refers to Hardware. I mainly use my computer at the office, a portable computer with Internet connection when I travel abroad and a mobile. I have a palm which I do not use too much since it is too heavy and I do not have a blackberry for the time being. In terms of computer programmes I use the typical ones (mainly Microsoft Office).

IOONOS : Who do you work with?

I have a team of about 25 persons mainly engineers and more than 50% are women. There is also some administrative staff (3x)

IOONOS : What are the skills and qualities needed?

Enough technical background to evaluate the quality of the proposals we receive, negotiation capability and ability to speak in public

IOONOS : Does your job correspond to the training you have received and the idea that you had of it?

I got the training through my work, much more than through education

IOONOS : What are the interests of your job?

A good visibility of a very interesting sector and contacts with very qualified and interesting people throughout the world

IOONOS : What are the challenges?

We need to position Spain in this field according to our overall economical situation, and we are very much behind. Although an important effort has been done in the recent years, there is still a lot to do.

IOONOS : What are the constraints?

Probably there is a clear overcapacity in Europe, so it is difficult to participate in international programmes in areas where companies from other countries have much larger experience. When you start later than others, things are even more difficult (but not impossible). Besides budgets are never big enough, even if there has been a significant increase over the last few years. Would you recommend this profession to young people, if so, what advice would you give them? Only if they are really enthusiastic about it. One should only work in areas where you can feel passion. Work takes a too big portion of your life to waste it.

IOONOS : Does space make you dream?

I still feel the emotion everytime a launcher takes: I can't help thinking of all the hours pent working on it.This is still a risky business though.