Aerospace Senior Project Manager

National Composites Centre; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research and development center in Bristol seeks an Aerospace Senior Project Manager to oversee small to medium-sized engineering projects within the Aerospace team. The position is hybrid, requiring two days on-site. Candidates should have strong project management skills and experience in the aerospace industry, particularly with composites structures. The role involves client engagement, project lifecycle execution, and collaboration on business development activities.

Benefits

Annual salary reviews

Company paid private medical insurance

Up to 12.5% employer pension contribution

Honorary staff status at the University of Bristol

Focus on well-being, EDI, and development

Qualifications

• Experience working with third-party companies.
• Desirable: composites experience.
• Aerospace structures experience.

Responsibilities

• Execute projects through all phases of the lifecycle.
• Ensure project management processes are followed.
• Support weekly and monthly project review meetings.
• Maintain up to date project plans for all live projects.
• Develop and maintain relationships with customer representatives.

Skills

Project Management experience

Aerospace industry experience

Risk & issue management

Planning

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem solving skills

Attention to detail

Education

Experience with composites structures

Research & Development experience

Job description

Aerospace Senior Project Manager

Bristol based with Hybrid working (2 days on site)

Advert end date: 4th December 2025 – we reserve the right to withdraw the advert early if required.

We’re a national R&D centre - government-backed, not-for-profit, and mission-driven. We work across 16 sectors and over 100 partners a year. Our people are here to deliver outcomes that matter, and you’ll be involved in how we support, retain and grow them.

You’ll have the responsibility for client engagement and executing a variety of small to medium sized engineering projects within our Aerospace team. You’ll work over the full project lifecycle, plus involvement in bid management and business development activities.

Using the NCC project management processes, which are a mix of Waterfall and Agile methodologies, you’ll will work with Programme Managers to ensure that all projects are delivered to time, cost, quality and customer satisfaction.

Specifically you'll focus on the following activities;

• Responsible for supporting the successful execution of projects through any or all the phases of a project lifecycle: initiation, requirements capture, planning, execution and closure.
• Ensure all project management processes are followed including effective risk identification and mitigation, change control, maintenance of documentation logs, updating project reporting and creation and management of project plans.
• Support weekly and monthly project review meetings to ensure all elements of project delivery are achieved.
• Ensure all members of the project team have clear visibility of project booking codes and are accurately reflecting all the hours worked on the project
• Ensure all projects adhere to NCC quality, health and safety processes and actively promote a positive H&S culture within the team.
• Customer Relationship Management - Develop and maintain appropriate relationships with the customer representative(s) ensure customer focus is maintained on all elements of project delivery
• Maintain up to date project plans covering all live and pipeline projects.
• Ensure all project plans are correctly resourced so that capacity planning can be conducted across all functional skill groups Technology
• Participate in technical meetings where required to support customer solution generation commensurate with experience.

So, what are we looking for in your application?

We will prioritise applications with background in fields such as engineering or aerospace and look for the following in your CV:

• Project Management experience
• Aerospace industry experience, ideally with composites structures.
• Good all around project management skills including risk & issue management, planning, budget management & stakeholder management skills
• Experience supporting 3rd party companies
• Research & Development experience
• Desirable: Composites experience. Aerospace Structures experience.

In terms of personal qualities, we look for the ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people via telephone, in writing and face to face; good organisation skills, problem solving skills and attention to detail.

Who are NCC?

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.

Who we work with

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.

What it’s like here

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.

Why this job matters

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.

What do we offer in return?

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.