Principal Configuration Manager

Babcock International; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in the United Kingdom is seeking a Principal Configuration Manager to shape the future of configuration management. This strategic role will involve building a world-class Service Delivery Team, ensuring alignment with industry best practices, and managing relationships across key business units. The ideal candidate will have a proven background in complex, regulated industries and demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Competitive salary and hybrid working arrangements are available.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to a Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Holiday Trading benefit

Excellent development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading configuration management functions within complex, regulated industries.
• Demonstrated success in building and scaling teams and services.
• Deep understanding of configuration management principles and standards.

Responsibilities

• Shape the future of Configuration Management by designing and leading a world-class Service Delivery Team.
• Partner with senior leaders to influence demand planning.
• Set the standard for configuration management through industry best practices.

Skills

Leadership in configuration management

Stakeholder engagement

Understanding of engineering lifecycle

Building and scaling teams

Education

Formal engineering qualifications (Level 5 or higher)

CMII or CMPIC certification

Job description

Job Title: Principal Configuration Manager

Location: Ashton Vale, Bristol + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF 69779

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Configuration Manager across our Bristol, Plymouth and Tewksbury sites.

The Role

As Principal Configuration Manager you will play a critical role in embedding industry best practice, ensuring consistency, and enabling scalable support for our Products and Services.

This is a newly created strategic role that will shape how configuration management is delivered across Mission Systems. It offers the opportunity to build a legacy of excellence, drive consistency, and ensure our products and services are supported by world-class configuration practices.

The role is seeking a visionary and delivery-focused Principal Configuration Manager to establish and lead a centralised Configuration Management Team that will service our three Business Units: Sense and Connect, Effectors, and Space with Babcock Mission Systems.

Build & Lead a High-Performing Team

• Shape the future of Configuration Management by designing and leading a world-class Service Delivery Team. Define structure, roles, and responsibilities to meet evolving business needs. Recruit, onboard, and develop top talent to support Mission Systems today and tomorrow.

Drive Strategic Impact

• Partner with senior leaders across all Business Units to understand and anticipate configuration requirements. Influence demand planning and embed configuration support throughout programme and product lifecycles. Ensure resources and budgets are aligned to deliver success in Business Winning and Organic Growth activities.

Champion Process & Tooling Excellence

• Set the standard for configuration management by developing strategies aligned with industry best practices (Def Stan 05-57, ISO 10007, CMMI). Deploy cutting‑edge tools and systems to enable scalable, efficient operations. Lead continuous improvement and standardisation across the organisation.

Ensure Governance & Assurance

• Establish robust governance frameworks, including Configuration Control Boards (CCBs), audits, and reviews, in line with global engineering processes. Safeguard data integrity, traceability, and compliance. Provide expert guidance and assurance to engineering and delivery teams.

Be the Voice of Configuration Management

• Act as the senior authority and trusted advisor for configuration management. Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Programme Management, and Delivery teams to ensure seamless integration. Represent the discipline in strategic forums and influence key decisions.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with up to 3 onsite and 2 days working from home.

Essential Experience of the Principal Configuration Manager

• Proven experience in leading configuration management functions within complex, regulated industries (defence, aerospace, nuclear, rail).
• Demonstrated success in building and scaling teams and services.
• Deep understanding of configuration management principles, standards, for whole engineering lifecycle.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.

Qualifications for the Principal Configuration Manager

• Formal engineering qualifications (Level 5 or higher); CMII or CMPIC certification desirable.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What We Offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day’s paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing Date: 07/01/2026

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