Deputy Director(Maritime Autonomous Surface and Underwater Systems)(2y contract)

[What the role is]

MPA is seeking a candidate to head the newly formed Maritime Autonomous Surface and Underwater Systems (MASUS) department within the Operations Transformation & Planning Division (OTPD) under the Ops Cluster. The OTPD supports MPA’s mission by ensuring that policies, plans, and procedures are operationally ready to enhance port services and performance as well as to mitigate risks through a myriad of sensors and systems. OTPD is entrusted with developing future operating concepts in the multi-domain (space, air, sea, sub-sea, and cyber) areas of operations and translating them into operational requirements for the purpose of capability development in MPA.
Crisis scenarios include severe events caused by geopolitical risks, pandemics, natural disasters, and climate change effects, as well as major incidents such as vessel collisions and oil/fuel/chemical spills etc. which could cause disruptions to the global supply chain and negatively impact port security and maritime safety. To enhance our port efficiency and effectiveness, MPA is also leveraging on technologies and robotics to perform key maritime services like ship inspections and shore-to-ship deliveries of critical/high value items.
To ensure that Maritime Singapore is future-ready and maintains its status as the world’s largest transhipment and bunkering hub, there is a critical need to strengthen and future-proof our operational responses and safeguard Singapore’s national and maritime interests. The complexity of any maritime incident necessitates capability development and collaboration across multiple domains in the assigned area of operations. Future operating concepts must leverage capabilities and sensors across multiple domains in order to ensure effective and timely response in a crisis.
You are also responsible for formulating, innovating, and developing MPA’s maritime autonomous surface and underwater systems, aligning these plans as part of the Multi-Domain Capability Development Hub. You will need to understand the impact of these domains over the wider eco-system and to support MPA’s digitalisation and decarbonisation efforts. You will also be responsible for all policy, operations planning and development including working closely with stakeholders to establish standards, safeguards and systems related to Maritime Autonomous Surface and Underwater Systems including training requirements and deployment of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) in Maritime Singapore. You will be part of the team to drive the design review, development of USV and UUV systems and operational capabilities to ensure the readiness and serviceability of these systems operated by MPA staff.

[What you will be working on]

You are responsible for driving the development of MPA’s capabilities in maritime autonomous surface and underwater systems. This includes the use of geospatial data to develop solutions to help build a comprehensive maritime situational awareness picture in multi-domains to support port operations and incident/crisis management.

Your responsibilities include:

• Explore the use of unmanned systems to increase maritime situational awareness.

• Explore the use of unmanned systems as one of the means of monitoring for environmental and shipping activities in our port waters.

• Explore unmanned systems solutions for the maritime domain, and foster collaboration between maritime unmanned systems service providers and maritime end-user communities to enhance cost-effectiveness of maritime services.

• Identify and understand the needs of maritime end-user communities, facilitate dialogue with the unmanned systems and the updating of unmanned system services.

• Identify existing operational solutions applicable in the maritime domain through practical examples, as well as bottlenecks to harness the potential of unmanned systems applications.

• Lead the initiatives to plan, develop, implement and manage USV and UUV including regulatory requirements and processes and workflows for monitoring and control of maritime drone activities in our port waters.

• Responsible for project management, network infrastructure design, deployment and operations of USV and UUV, as well as supervise the maintenance of USV and UUV under MPA’s inventory.

• Ensure overall quality and integrity of USV and UUV related projects.

• Maintain the USV and UUV in accordance with international standards and best practices.

• Manage project resources and schedule by working with both internal and external stakeholders to deliver UAS systems that meet the specified requirements.

• Responsible for the project management of any USV and UUV replacement, including the procurement and implementation process as well as support the implementation of new systems.

• Designing the system/network architecture of high-availability systems which are to be IM8-compliant/cyber-secured, including formulating the technical specifications for the system and ensuring that the delivered system complies with specifications.

[What we are looking for]

• Background in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology or any other engineering related discipline or other quantitative fields is preferred. Experience in unmanned systems will be an advantage.

• At least five years of working experience in aviation and maritime sectors including regulation, communications, integration with systems and IoT technologies, operations or engineering role in project and service delivery.

• Experience in data science and analytics especially in the geospatial domain will be an advantage.

• Preferably those familiar with airspace and unmanned system.

• Experience in the uniformed services and knowledge of Maritime Singapore will be an added advantage.

• Strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.

• Able to lead and motivate teams.

• Good command of English and writing skills. 

• Excellent problem-solving and organising abilities.

• Knowledge of geospatial simulation and modelling software tools will be an advantage.

• Knowledge of advancements in satellite technology and their potential applications in the maritime industry is not necessary but will be an advantage.

• Knowledge and experience on radars, electro-optics, frequency spectrum, and associated unmanned systems will be an added advantage.

• Able to leverage on data to develop empirical-based models for appreciation of system effectiveness and aid in decision making.

• Successful candidates will be offered a 2-year contract in the first instance and may be considered for an extension or placement on a permanent appointment.