Senior Project Manager – Aerospace and Defence

🔒 Confidential Employer
Posted 7 May 2026
LOCATION
Bristol
TYPE
Full-time
LEVEL
Mid-Senior level
CATEGORY
Management & Operations
This role is not offered with visa sponsorship, though the employer is a licensed UK sponsor

SKILLS

Project Management Risk Management Budget Management Stakeholder Communication Microsoft Office Engineering Knowledge Bid Preparation Team Leadership

FULL DESCRIPTION

Senior Project Manager – Aerospace and Defence

Location: Bristol

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Type: Permanent

Salary: Attractive + Benefits

Recruiter: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] – Contact: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Job Description

A Senior Project Manager is required within an Advanced Aerospace, Marine and Defence Services Organisation. The Senior Project Manager will join the senior team and will be involved in the full project life-cycle from assisting with bids for new and continuing work to delivering existing long-term programmes of work. Specifically, the Senior Project Manager role involves the planning, monitoring, and control of allocated projects in the Aerospace and Defence market. Key to this is ensuring that projects are in line with the company’s Quality Management System (QMS) and project management procedures within the level of delegated authority.

This Senior Project Manager role would suit a candidate who has previous engineering and current project management experience looking to move into a fast-moving company with a world-wide customer base. This role will be based in their Bristol offices with occasional travel to client's sites as required however as part of their commitment to flexible working, employees are able to combine office work with remote working.

Key Responsibilities

  • Reporting to Head of Programmes, manage projects in accordance with procedures.
  • Participation in the Bid Phase, either supporting the Business Manager.
  • Potentially leading bids post initial customer contact.
  • Some preparation of proposals estimates, and initial pricing may be required.
  • Preparation of all Project Start-up and Initiation Documentation.
  • Preparation of Project Briefs, Project Management Plans, Project Schedules, and Budgets.
  • Management of Risk in accordance with company procedures.
  • Tracking, monitoring progress and management of projects for Time, Cost and Quality.
  • Preparation of project data including budget updates, estimates, invoicing, and profiling.
  • Management of project resource demand and participation in Business Unit resource.
  • Stakeholder communication for both internal/external to customers and suppliers.
  • Management and control of contract changes with the customer for all allocated projects.
  • Early and clear reporting, raising/escalation of project issues, risks, and potential problems.
  • Support the implementation of Best Practice Project Management across the company.
  • Identify opportunities for improving processes and efficiency regarding projects.

Required Skills & Experience

  • Degree qualified in an Engineering, Science, Technology, Mathematics, or related discipline.
  • Recognised Project Management training and qualification (Desirable).
  • Ability to lead team members in demanding technical environments.
  • Able to work with a wide experience level from junior engineers to technical consultants.
  • Financially astute, able to create and manage project budgets to maintain profit margin.
  • Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
  • Confident in prioritisation and managing concurrent work-streams.
  • Ability to manage own workload and work to deadlines.
  • Be an effective communicator, both written and verbal.
  • A proactive and assertive nature with the motivation to succeed.
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Power-point.
  • General experience within defence or aerospace engineering environment.
  • Experience of project management of engineering technical services provision.
  • Ideally experience of full life cycle development programmes.
  • Some line management experience (of at least one other)

Additional Information

Security Clearance and UK Nationals only for this role due to the nature of systems involved.

Your CV will be forwarded to [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] are those of an Employment Agency. In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included.

For any questions, contact Peter Heap at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] on [contact hidden] or [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

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