Project Manager, Operations Management, Project & Program Management

An exciting new opportunity is available to join our team technology play a key role in aerospace and defence, leveraging our technical expertise in thermal and motion management to resolve the most difficult challenges these markets have to offer.

The Project Manager is responsible and accountable for the planning, execution, governance, and successful delivery of assigned development programmes, primarily focused on new product introduction, product redesign, technology development, and customer-funded engineering projects. To do this they will work closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Business Development teams to ensure products are successfully progressed from concept through qualification and into production, whilst

The role acts as the primary interface between the customer and the business, leading a cross‑functional Integrated Project Team (IPT). The candidate will be a leader of people and complex problem solver adept at leveraging large groups of people to resolve challenges. Each project and IPT has its own P&L allowing the successful candidate to learn and demonstrate effective P&L management leading to future advancement within Air technology.

Experience of delivering engineering development programmes within aerospace, defence, military, or other high‑integrity manufacturing sectors is highly desirable.

• Act as the primary customer contact for assigned development programmes, providing regular updates regarding technical progress, programme milestones, risks, actions, and commercial performance.
• Lead the planning and delivery of New Product Introduction (NPI) and engineering development projects from concept through qualification and production handover.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate integrated project plans covering engineering, manufacturing, procurement, qualification, and customer deliverables.
• Manage project schedules using structured project management methodologies and project management software platforms.
• Drive cross‑functional collaboration across Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and Business Development.
• Drive project governance activities including project reviews, phase‑gate reviews, design reviews, risk reviews and qualification reviews.
• Manage programme performance against agreed scope, budget, resource, schedule, and quality objectives.
• Maintain project risk and opportunity registers and ensure effective mitigation actions are implemented and monitored.
• Ensure alignment between customer requirements, engineering solutions, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Support business case development, cost tracking, forecasting, and earned value/performance reporting.
• Manage scope changes and customer requests, ensuring all technical, schedule, and commercial impacts are assessed and controlled.
• Promote lessons learned and continuous improvement activities to enhance future programme delivery.
• Support manufacturing readiness and successful transition of products from development into serial production.
• Work with Engineering Managers to identify resource requirements and support effective allocation of engineering resources.
• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on programme performance, finances, risks, mitigation plans, and strategic opportunities.
• Effective and proactive P&L management.

• Proven experience managing product development, NPI, engineering, or manufacturing projects within a regulated or high‑integrity environment.
• Strong understanding of project management principles including scope, schedule, cost, risk, resource planning, and stakeholder management.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams comprising Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, and Commercial functions.
• Excellent customer‑facing and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to use AI tools to improve productivity, decision‑making, work quality, and to reduce costs. The successful candidate must be able to identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI‑generated outputs.

• HND/HNC or Degree in…