Programme Manager

Destinus; Zürich; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus seeks a Programme Manager to translate technical direction into disciplined execution across an international consortium in the defence sector. You will own the integrated schedule, budget, risks, actions, and governance, guiding a small senior engineering team toward on-time delivery.

You will manage export-control and information flows, coordinate partner deliverables, and report milestones to government and customers, ensuring secure, compliant execution.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of programme or project management experience in defence, aerospace, or a regulated technical environment.
• Experience leading complex multi-party or international programmes with industrial and government stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with export-controlled and/or classified programmes, including security and information-control procedures.
• Strong scheduling, budgeting, milestone tracking, risk management, and document control experience.
• Technical literacy to follow engineering reviews and translate decisions into actions.
• Fluent professional English; knowledge of French, German, or Dutch is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the integrated programme schedule across Destinus and partner work packages, tracking critical paths and milestones.
• Run the programme operating rhythm with technical boards, reviews, and partner meetings; ensure closure of actions.
• Own budget tracking, programme risks, issues, and escalation to leadership.
• Manage export-control, security, releasability, and controlled information flows across consortium partners.
• Coordinate partner deliverables, interfaces, data exchanges, and review preparation.
• Support governmental and customer milestones with clear status, documentation, and reporting.

Skills

Programme management

Defence/aerospace

Export control

Budget tracking

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Scheduling

Documentation control

Leadership

English fluency

Job description

Imagine this, you are running the programme engine behind a four-nation European consortium developing an anti-ballistic missile system at operational pace. Destinus is the programme prime and responsible for the exo-atmospheric interceptor, engineered for affordability and production at scale.

As Programme Manager, you will turn technical direction into disciplined execution. You will own the schedule, budget, risks, actions, programme governance, and information flow across industrial partners and national stakeholders, keeping a small senior engineering team focused on delivery.

At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.

What You\'ll Do

• Own the integrated programme schedule across Destinus and partner work packages, tracking critical paths, dependencies, milestones, and deliverables
• Run the programme operating rhythm, including technical boards, work-package reviews and partner meetings, ensuring decisions and actions are tracked to closure
• Own budget tracking, programme risks, issues, and escalation to programme leadership
• Manage export-control, security, releasability, document control, and controlled information flows across consortium partners
• Coordinate partner deliverables, interfaces, data exchanges, and review preparation
• Support governmental and customer milestones with clear programme status, documentation, and reporting

• 10+ years of programme or project management experience in defence, aerospace, or another regulated technical environment
• Experience running complex multi-party or international programmes involving industrial and government stakeholders
• Hands-on experience with export-controlled and/or classified programmes, including security, releasability, and information-control procedures
• Strong experience with integrated scheduling, budgets, milestones, risk management, action tracking, and document control
• Technical literacy to confidently follow engineering reviews and translate decisions into clear actions
• Fluent professional English, with French, German, or Dutch considered a plus

Highly Desirable

• Experience with missile, aerospace, weapons, or other government defence programmes
• Experience establishing programme structures and processes for a new or early-phase development programme