Project Manager

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL); Guildford; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days Holiday plus Bank Holidays

Pension Scheme with Life Assurance

Private Medical & International Travel

Annual Bonus Scheme

Share Incentive Plan

Enhanced Maternity

Paternity & Shared Parental Pay

High Street Discount Scheme

Job summary

SSTL in the United Kingdom is seeking a Project Manager at the start of their career to lead and motivate a team, delivering space projects for institutional, export and defence customers. You will manage studies from concept design to AIT, launch preparation and in-orbit commissioning, with exposure across the full mission lifecycle.

This role offers cradle-to-grave experience, coordinating schedules, risk, cost, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful outcomes and alignment with

Qualifications

• 3–5 years project management experience in space/aerospace.
• Experience managing customer interfaces throughout the lifecycle.
• Understanding of contracts and project governance.
• Familiarity with work package management in a matrix structure.

Responsibilities

• Manage small projects or deliver larger programmes from award to space/ground segment delivery.
• Lead core project team with strong leadership and coordination of engineering activities.
• Define work packages and allocate resources with engineering leads.
• Manage communications with customers and internal functions.
• Plan reviews and define objectives, inputs, outputs and success criteria.
• Identify and mitigate key project risks and integrate into planning and execution.
• Monitor financial performance, forecast cost-to-complete and ensure budgets are met.
• Prepare cost packs for business development and future opportunities.
• Support bid activities with planning, scheduling and risk assessment.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Planning & scheduling

Risk management

Delivery focus

Education

Spacecraft engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Project

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Are you ready to take your career in Project Management to new heights? Have 3-5 years of experience working in the space sector technically or programmatically? Want to work on exciting space missions from LEO to GEO and beyond, why not join the Project Management team at SSTL.

As a Project Manager at SSTL, you'll have the opportunity to be involved in early studies to every stage of a mission, from concept design to AIT, launch and commissioning. This is a true cradle-to-grave experience that will give you the chance to see your work in space in a rapid timescale!

About the role: We are looking for a passionate Project Manager at the start of their career who has the skills and motivation to lead and motivate a team to deliver some of the world’s most innovative space projects to a diverse customer base including institutional, export and defence.

Key tasks

• Manage small projects / studies or support the delivery of larger programmes, from contract award through development and delivery of space and ground segments, launch preparation and in-orbit commissioning.
• Take responsibility for all aspects of project delivery, ensuring compliance with SSTL's established procedures and processes, including schedules, deliverables management, project plans, risk management, technical maturity gates and earned value management.
• Lead the day-to-day activities of the project core team, ensuring delivery remains aligned to the approved baseline plan through strong leadership, motivation and effective coordination of engineering activities.
• Define and structure project work packages, securing agreement with engineering team leaders on resource allocation and delivery responsibilities.
• Manage communications and stakeholder engagement with customers and internal functions.
• Plan and lead project reviews, defining objectives, inputs, outputs and success criteria to ensure successful outcomes and achievement of associated customer payment milestones.
• Identify, manage and mitigate key project risks, ensuring effective risk capture, measurable mitigation actions and integration into project work package planning and execution.
• Monitor and control project financial performance, including contingency management, cost-to-complete forecasting and profit performance, ensuring delivery within approved budgets.
• Prepare cost packs and supporting material for business development and future opportunities.
• Support SSTL bid activities by providing programme management input to Bid Managers, including deliverables planning, scheduling, cost estimation, risk assessment and customer engagement activities

Role To Include, But Not Limited To

• Manage small projects / studies or support the delivery of larger programmes, from contract award through development and delivery of space and ground segments, launch preparation and in-orbit commissioning.
• Take responsibility for all aspects of project delivery, ensuring compliance with SSTL's established procedures and processes, including schedules, deliverables management, project plans, risk management, technical maturity gates and earned value management.
• Lead the day-to-day activities of the project core team, ensuring delivery remains aligned to the approved baseline plan through strong leadership, motivation and effective coordination of engineering activities.
• Define and structure project work packages, securing agreement with engineering team leaders on resource allocation and delivery responsibilities.
• Manage communications and stakeholder engagement with customers and internal functions.
• Plan and lead project reviews, defining objectives, inputs, outputs and success criteria to ensure successful outcomes and achievement of associated customer payment milestones.
• Identify, manage and mitigate key project risks, ensuring effective risk capture, measurable mitigation actions and integration into project work package planning and execution.
• Monitor and control project financial performance, including contingency management, cost-to-complete forecasting and profit performance, ensuring delivery within approved budgets.
• Prepare cost packs and supporting material for business development and future opportunities.
• Support SSTL bid activities by providing programme management input to Bid Managers, including deliverables planning, scheduling, cost estimation, risk assessment and customer engagement activities

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Previous Experience

• 3 to 5 Years project management experience, including the successful initiation, execution and delivery of small projects / studies, within the satellite or aerospace sectors.
• Demonstrated experience of managing customer relationships and interfacing effectively with external / internal stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Understanding and practical experience of contract implementation and delivery within a project environment.
• Familiarity with work package management systems and operating within a matrix management structure is desirable.

Qualifications Knowledge & Skills

• Degree-qualified, or equivalent experience, in spacecraft engineering or technical discipline preferred.
• Strong people management and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and develop teams within a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Excellent team-working and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence, persuade and negotiate effectively with both internal and external stakeholders, while facilitating compromise where requirements conflict.
• Highly organised, self-motivated and proactive, with a strong sense of ownership.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and business needs.
• Results-driven, with a strong focus on delivery and achieving project objectives.
• Strong decision-making and creative problem-solving capabilities within challenging timescales
• Ability to work closely with technical teams to understand complex issues, translating these into schedule and cost impacts while maintaining a balanced approach to risk.
• Experience in developing and maintaining risk registers and communicating risk management approaches effectively.
• Commercial awareness, with the ability to interpret contractual terms and assess their impact on project delivery.
• Ability to develop and maintain project plans and schedules using Microsoft Project.
• Capable of working autonomously and using initiative to drive tasks through to completion.
• Understanding of contracts, product assurance plans and project governance principles.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Microsoft Project.
• Demonstrates company values and behaviours, including accountability, delivery focus, effective communication, self-management and collaborative working.

Location

The role is based in our Head Office in Guildford.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes;

• 32 days Holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Pension Scheme with Life Assurance
• Private Medical & International Travel Insurance
• Annual Bonus Scheme
• Share Incentive Plan
• Enhanced Maternity
• Paternity & Shared Parental Pay for new parents
• High Street Discount Scheme
• many more!