Project Manager

Safran; Banbury; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Safran is seeking a Programme Manager for our Banbury site to lead aerospace R&D programmes from concept to delivery, ensuring technical, cost, schedule and quality objectives are met. The role uses Agile practices to manage multiple workstreams and requires coordination across engineering, manufacturing and external partners.

Based in Banbury with hybrid working, you will provide governance reporting to senior leadership and funding bodies, and support future opportunities with cost estimates

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering aerospace R&D or NPI programmes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of Agile planning and execution.
• Excellent stakeholder management with senior customers and funding bodies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of complex aerospace R&D programmes from concept through technology maturation.
• Develop and maintain integrated programme plans, work breakdown structures and resource plans using Agile project management principles.
• Facilitate Agile planning activities including sprint planning, backlog prioritisation, daily stand-ups and programme reviews.
• Own programme governance, providing regular reporting to senior leadership, steering committees, customers and funding bodies on status, risks and milestones.
• Lead programme risk, opportunity and change management, ensuring risks are identified, mitigated and communicated.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary Integrated Project Teams comprising Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain and external partners.
• Support Business Development and Bid & Proposal activities with plans, cost estimates and risk assessments for future opportunities.
• Work with ATI and Innovate UK throughout lifecycle of government-funded collaborative R&D programmes, ensuring compliance and milestones.

Skills

R&D programme delivery

Agile project management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Risk & change management

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

The Composite Centre of Excellence in Banbury provides bespoke aerospace composite products for applications including fluid transfer, structural and transmission.

We have a great opportunity for a Project Manager based at our Banbury facility where you will be accountable for robust and accurate Project Management deliverables associated with Time/Cost/Quality/Performance objectives of the projects you will manage.

Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets.

Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazine's ""World's Best Companies 2025"" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense is an international company with more than 19,000 employees who bring together expertise and team spirit to design high-technology solutions for the aerospace, defense and space sectors. By combining human and technological intelligence, the company develops products and services for both civil and military customers, operating on land, at sea, in the air and in space.

Programme Manager

Banbury

Hybrid Working

At Safran, excellence is a journey - and we'd love you to be a part of it. As a trusted global leader in aerospace, defence, and space, we are proud to be a company where diversity, innovation, and opportunity come together to shape a sustainable future where we can all succeed together through a shared vision.

Safran Actuation Systems UK is a world-class centre for the design, manufacture and support of actuation and flight-control solutions used across commercial, military and rotary platforms. With major sites in Wolverhampton and Banbury, our teams play a critical role in delivering innovative, reliable and safe systems that keep aircraft performing at their best.

Our UK Actuation business brings together engineering excellence, advanced manufacturing capability and a proud heritage within the aerospace sector. Whether supporting major global programmes or developing the next generation of actuation technologies, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

Your Role

• Lead the planning and delivery of complex aerospace Research & Development (R&D) programmes from concept through technology maturation, ensuring delivery of agreed technical, cost, schedule and quality objectives.
• Develop and maintain integrated programme plans, work breakdown structures and resource plans using Agile project management principles, enabling effective prioritisation, execution and delivery across multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Facilitate Agile planning activities including sprint planning, backlog prioritisation, daily stand-ups and programme reviews, adapting delivery plans to evolving technical challenges and business priorities.
• Own programme governance, providing regular reporting to senior leadership, steering committees, customers and funding bodies on programme status, risks, financial performance and milestone achievement.
• Lead programme risk, opportunity and change management, ensuring technical, commercial and schedule risks are proactively identified, mitigated and communicated.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary Integrated Project Teams comprising Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance and external partners to deliver innovative aerospace technologies.
• Support Business Development and Bid & Proposal (B&P) activities by developing project execution strategies, programme plans, cost estimates, resource profiles and risk assessments for future opportunities.
• Work closely with the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and Innovate UK (IUK) throughout the lifecycle of government-funded collaborative R&D programmes, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, reporting obligations and milestone delivery.
• Support the preparation and successful delivery of collaborative R&D funding applications, helping secure government investment for strategic technology development programmes.

You will bring to the role

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Project Management or a related technical discipline.
• Proven experience delivering Research & Development (R&D) or New Product Introduction (NPI) programmes within aerospace, defence or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams through uncertain and evolving technology development programmes.
• Strong understanding of Agile programme delivery, project planning and execution.
• Demonstrable experience in risk management, opportunity management and change control.
• Experience supporting Bid & Proposal (B&P) activities, business cases or funding applications.
• Knowledge of collaborative government-funded R&D programmes (e.g. Innovate UK, ATI, Horizon Europe) would be highly desirable.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging customers, senior executives and external funding organisations.