Engineering Manager - AJAX In-Service

Quast Ltd; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 131,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

On-site 1 day/week at General Dynamics

On-site 3 days/week at MOD Abbey Wood

1 day work from home

Job summary

Quast Ltd is seeking a senior Lead Engineer to head in-service engineering activities, ensuring operational readiness and high reliability. You will coordinate across pillars and collaborate with lead engineers and stakeholders to resolve in-service issues promptly.

The role requires an engineering qualification with CEng or equivalent and proven leadership in defence programs, with strong interpersonal skills and a focus on continuous improvement and compliance.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent with professional registration (CEng or equal).
• Experience leading engineering teams and large stakeholder communities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills essential.
• Desirable: experience in defence major programs (GMPP/CAT A) and asset management.
• Knowledge of change/configuration management is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and coordinate in-service engineering activities for readiness.
• Collaborate with Lead Engineers and stakeholders to resolve in-service issues promptly.
• Lead resolution of in-service engineering issues to minimize downtime and maintain quality.
• Support Pillar Lead with technical input, progress updates, and risk assessments.
• Act as Deputy as required and liaise with logistics, maintenance, and supply chain.
• Drive continuous improvement and quality initiatives in in-service processes.
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards and safety regulations.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Stakeholder management

Interpersonal skills

Defence major program experience

Engineering change and configuration

Education

Engineering qualification and CEng or equivalent

Job description

Location: Hybrid (see Other Information)

Rate: Up to £820/day (Inside IR35)

Duration: ASAP to 31/03/2027 (potential extension to 31/03/2028)

Deadline for Applications: 03/11/2026 at 10:00 GMT

Clearance: Current SC Clearance required for the duration of the requirement

Overview

The AJAX Programme sits within the National Armaments Director Group (NAD). It is delivered on behalf of DG Material (3*), under the purview of Director Land Environment (2*), and delivered as part of the Land Combat Vehicles Portfolio (1*).

The AJAX team comprises of several pillars, each one representing a stage in the project lifecycle. This role sits within the In-service Pillar. This is responsible for all engineering and support activity of the in-service fleet.

This senior role will lead on all engineering, quality and in-service issues management. They will work closely with Lead Engineers, Engineering Managers and Engineers within the other pillars, most notably with the cross cutting Integrate Pillar, led by an OF5. This role will report directly to the In-service Pillar lead.

Key Tasks and Deliverables

Lead Engineer Role: Provide technical leadership and coordinate in-service engineering activities to support operational readiness.

Collaboration: Work closely with the Project Chief, other Lead Engineers, and in-service stakeholders to identify, manage, and resolve in-service engineering issues promptly.

Issue Resolution:Lead resolution of in-service engineering issues impacting equipment, ensuring minimal disruption to operational availability and quality.

Support Pillar Lead:Provide technical input, progress updates, and risk assessments related to in-service engineering to the pillar lead. Act as Deputy as required.

Cross-functional Liaison:Liaise with cross-functional teams including logistics, maintenance, and supply chain to ensure in-service engineering requirements are met for support.

Continuous Improvement:Drive continuous improvement and quality initiatives within in-service processes and engineering practices to enhance reliability and maintainability.

Compliance:Ensure compliance with relevant engineering standards, safety regulations, and in-service project requirements.

Documentation:Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of engineering issues, resolutions, and decisions related to in-service support.

Essential Experience / Skills

• Hold a suitable Engineering qualification and level of training (level 6 or greater). Professional Registered as CEng or equivalent. Experience managing engineering teams is essential. Experience managing large stakeholder communities and strong interpersonal skills is essential.

Desirable Experience / Skills

• Experience managing engineering change and configuration (Asset management experience) is desirable. Experience within an In-service equipment management environment is desirable, but not essential. Experience managing engineering activity within a Defence Major Program (GMPP/CAT A) is desirable.

Other Information

Weekly working pattern (expectations):

• 1 day a week on site at General Dynamics in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
• 3 days a week on site at MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol.
• 1 day a week working from home.