Project Manager - Space Systems

Alexander Associates; Harwell; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Workplace pension

Learning and development allowance

Job summary

Alexander Associates is seeking an experienced Project Manager for a rapidly growing space technology company at Harwell Campus. You will lead projects from planning through delivery, coordinating engineering, commercial and operations teams to meet scope, schedule and budget.

The role requires 5+ years in project leadership within a complex engineering environment, with exposure to space hardware or aerospace systems.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in project or programme management or equivalent within complex engineering environments.
• Experience delivering complex hardware development programmes.
• Exposure to spacecraft, satellite, flight hardware or aerospace systems.
• Experience managing projects with multiple engineering disciplines.
• Strong stakeholder, customer and supplier management skills.
• Experience managing significant budgets, schedules and resources.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary project teams across engineering, commercial and operations.
• Define and maintain project objectives, scope, deliverables and schedules.
• Manage projects against cost, schedule and quality requirements.
• Control budgets, resources, labour and expenditure.
• Track progress against milestones and KPIs; adapt plans to ensure delivery.
• Identify and mitigate project risks with appropriate strategies.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to resolve technical and programme issues.
• Coordinate major milestones (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR) and customer relations.
• Support bids for programmes including planning, scheduling and cost estimation.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Project leadership

Cross-disciplinary coordination

Space sector experience

Hands-on project delivery

Job description

Alexander Associates is working with an innovative and rapidly growing space technology company developing advanced hardware and systems for the next generation of in-orbit missions.

The Role

You will be responsible for leading projects from initial planning and requirements through development, verification, qualification and delivery.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating multidisciplinary project teams, providing clear direction across engineering, commercial and operational stakeholders.
• Defining and maintaining project objectives, scope, deliverables and schedules.
• Managing projects against agreed cost, schedule and quality requirements.
• Managing project budgets, resources, labour and expenditure.
• Tracking progress against key milestones and KPIs, adapting plans and workflows where required to maintain delivery.
• Identifying and managing project risks, ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are developed and implemented.
• Working closely with engineering teams to resolve technical and programme issues as they arise.
• Coordinating major project and design milestones including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR and FRR.
• Managing relationships with customers, funding organisations, external partners, subcontractors and suppliers.
• Supporting bids for commercial and institutional programmes, including project planning, scheduling, resource planning and cost estimation.

About You

We are interested in speaking with experienced Project Managers from the space sector as well as technically strong engineers who have progressed into programme or project leadership.

Ideally, you will have:

• Approximately 5+ years' experience in project or programme management, or equivalent responsibility within a complex engineering environment.
• Experience delivering complex technology or hardware development programmes.
• Previous exposure to spacecraft, satellite, flight hardware or aerospace systems.
• Experience managing projects involving multiple engineering disciplines.
• Strong stakeholder, customer and supplier management skills.
• Experience managing significant project budgets, schedules and resources.
• The ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving, growing technology business.
• A practical, hands-on approach to project delivery.
• Experience delivering projects involving government, civil, defence or institutional customers would be particularly valuable.

Desirable Experience

Any of the following would be advantageous:

• Spacecraft or satellite hardware development.
• Satellite propulsion, fluid systems or in-orbit servicing technologies.
• Space hardware qualification and verification.
• ECSS or NASA standards.
• Working with ESA or other space agencies.
• Mission design or mission operations.
• Experience across multiple stages of the space systems lifecycle.
• Managing subcontractors and complex technical supply chains.

Location

The role is based at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, at the heart of the UK's space sector.

The company operates a hybrid working model, with full-time employees typically expected to spend around 10 days per month in the office or travelling on business.

Salary & Benefits

£50,000 - £75,000, depending on experience and level of responsibility.

• private healthcare
• workplace pension
• learning and development allowance