Project Manager; Engineering projects in Defence

Associate Project Manager (Defence) NCC

Bristol based with Hybrid working(2-3 days on site)

Salary: £46,355 to £52,155 per annum plus 12.5% employer pension & private medical insurance.

Security

Clearance Required:

You will be required to undertake government security clearance if successful securing this role.

Advert end date: 10th March – we reserve the right to withdraw the advert early if required.

As demand grows, we are expanding our Defence team to focus to include another Project Manager supporting technology innovation within the defence industry. You’ll support the management of complex innovation projects to delivery on time, on cost and on vision. If you enjoy steering engineering & technology programmes, influencing stakeholders, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of UK defence innovation.

NCC is accelerating the adoption of advanced materials, digital engineering and process innovation. Located at the heart of the UK’s largest defence cluster, we work with MOD, prime contractors and SMEs to turn cutting‑edge research into deployable capability at pace.

Reporting to the Technology Programme Manager – Defence, you’ll support a range of small to medium sized projects, with varying complexity, focused on Engineering Technology (not IT) innovation within Aerospace, Submarine and other defence applications.

• Support Delivery – control scope, schedule, cost and risk across the full six‑phase lifecycle – from initiation to closure – using NCC’s project management framework.
• Planning – convert technical statements of work into credible resource‑loaded schedules, align internal specialists and external partners, and maintain live plans for both active and pipeline projects.
• Support internal & external customers – run structured reviews, provide transparent progress reports and build long‑term relationships based on delivery excellence.
• Cost management
• Resource management
• Risk & issue management
• Governance & reporting

Specific experience we will look for in your CV would include;

• 3+ years’ experience as a Project Manager over your career, ideally managing engineering or technical projects
• Defence or Manufacturing industry background
• Ability and willingness to undergo government security clearance
• Engineering background in some shape or form, perhaps you are an Engineering graduate or perhaps you have run Engineering / Technology (not IT) projects in the past
• Good communication & interpersonal skills.

We help manufacturers take on bigger challenges – whether that’s building cleaner aircraft, scaling up offshore wind, or strengthening the UK’s supply chains. We’re here to deliver practical outcomes, not prototypes that sit on shelves.

We work across 16 sectors, from defence and energy to infrastructure and space. Some projects are with global tier 1s, others with small UK firms solving one specific problem – the works always varied, and always real.

We’re not a startup. We’re not a corporate. We’re a national centre with the kit, time and people to do the job properly. The teams are focused, the thinking is sharp, and you’ll be trusted to get on with it.

This role isn’t just internal support – it’s part of how we deliver nationally important work. If we do our job right, the UK’s manufacturers can do theirs better.

Hybrid and flexible working patterns as standard, annual salary reviews, company paid private medical insurance, up to 12.5% employer pension contribution, great people, honorary staff status at the University of Bristol. With a genuine focus on wellbeing, EDI and learning and development this is a chance to build your career in a thriving R&D facility with a bright future.