Project Manager

Meritus; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the Space Sector is seeking a Project Manager for a 6-month engagement, hybrid based in Guildford. The role involves managing satellite mission lifecycles, including leading project teams, managing budgets, and ensuring successful delivery. The candidate should have a strong background in technical project delivery, particularly in aerospace or engineering settings, along with excellent leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in delivering complex technical projects in space or high-tech engineering.
• Strong understanding of project setup and execution processes.
• Effective leadership skills with the ability to align teams under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of satellite missions.
• Lead cross-functional project teams and ensure scope, schedule, and budget alignment.
• Oversee project finances and perform budgeting and forecasting.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Risk Management

Communication

Commercial Awareness

Education

Degree in engineering, physics, or related field

Tools

MS Project

MS Office Tools

Job description

Meritus is working with a leading business in the Space Sector to recruit a Project Manager for an initial 6-month engagement, likely to be extended for an additional 6 months.

PROJECT MANAGER – SPACE SECTOR – 400 to 500 per day OUTSIDE IR35 – MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE SPACE SECTOR – HYBRID IN GUILDFORD

What You'll Be Doing

Your role will involve managing the full lifecycle of satellite missions, including space and ground segments:

• Leading projects or major program elements from contract kick-off through development, launch, commissioning, and operational handover.
• Owning project delivery from start to finish, managing plans, schedules, risk registers, deliverables, technical milestones, and costs, including earned value and risk exposure.
• Leading cross-functional project teams daily, ensuring scope, schedule, and budget alignment.
• Structuring project delivery into work packages, securing engineering resources, and maintaining progress.
• Serving as the main contact for customers and internal teams such as Engineering, Commercial, and Senior Leadership.
• Managing project reviews, defining objectives, success criteria, and ensuring customer milestones are met.
• Identifying and mitigating risks with clear actions tracked across work packages.
• Overseeing project finances, including budgeting, contingency planning, profit tracking, and forecasting.
• Supporting business development through cost modeling, bid inputs, risk assessments, and delivery strategies.
• Collaborating with Bid Managers to scope and shape new contract deliverables.

What You'll Bring

Experience

• Proven track record in delivering complex technical projects, preferably in space, aerospace, or high-tech engineering sectors.
• Strong understanding of project setup, execution, and closure processes.
• Experience managing external customers and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Familiarity with matrix organizations and work package-based delivery.
• Commercial awareness, with experience managing contracts and supplier performance.

Qualifications, Skills & Behaviours

• A degree (or equivalent) in engineering, physics, or a related technical field.
• Effective leadership skills to energize and align teams under pressure.
• Clear communication and confident influencing at all business levels.
• Organized, self-motivated, with quick adaptability.
• Calm, decisive, and proactive in problem-solving.
• Ability to work with technical teams, understanding engineering risks and trade-offs.
• Proficient in creating detailed project plans using MS Project.
• Strong commercial understanding, able to interpret contracts into delivery strategies.
• Skilled in MS Office tools and Microsoft Project.
• Independent, responsible, and capable of managing workload.
• Core professional behaviors: accountability, delivery focus, communication, teamwork, and self-management.