Scrum Master (Defence Software)

ALTEN; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering consultancy seeks a Scrum Master to lead Agile practices in a Manchester-based defence software development team. This role requires 5 years of experience, expertise in Agile at scale, and a background in software engineering. Responsibilities include facilitating Scrum ceremonies, overcoming team obstacles, and ensuring compliance with defence standards. Benefits include private medical insurance, flexible working arrangements, and career development opportunities.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance

Cycle & Tech Scheme

Employee assistance programme

Life insurance & Pension Scheme

Social atmosphere and team gatherings

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience as a Scrum Master in complex environments.
• Eligibility for UK Security Clearance (SC) required.
• Knowledge of defence industry standards preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate Scrum ceremonies to ensure team alignment.
• Drive Agile practices across multiple teams.
• Remove impediments to enable focus on sprint goals.

Skills

Scrum Master

Agile at scale (SAFe)

Software development background

Excellent communication

Leadership

Proactive problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant engineering field

Relevant military background

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

Company Description

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement & support sustainable transformation.

Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world—today.

Join us and start building tomorrow’s world today!

Job Description

Join our team as a Scrum Master and drive Agile excellence within a dynamic defence software development environment. In this role, you will facilitate high‑performing teams, ensuring the delivery of cutting‑edge software solutions while adhering to defence industry standards. Your expertise in Agile at scale (SAFe) and your background in software development will be pivotal in fostering collaboration, removing impediments, and delivering value in a fast‑paced, regulated setting.

Location: Stockport (Manchester)

On‑site: 5 days per week

Seniority: Senior (5 years of experience)

Clearance: SC clearable (no caveats)

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate Scrum ceremonies (daily stand‑ups, sprint planning, retrospectives, and reviews) to ensure team alignment and continuous improvement.
• Drive Agile at scale (SAFe) practices, promoting collaboration and delivery across multiple teams.
• Remove impediments and shield the team from distractions, enabling a focus on sprint goals.
• Leverage your software development background (ideally with a DevOps flavor) to understand technical challenges and support the team effectively.
• Ensure compliance with defence industry standards and best practices in software development.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous learning within the team.

Qualifications

Required Skills

• 5 years of experience as a Scrum Master, with a strong understanding of Agile at scale (SAFe).
• Previous experience in the defence industry or knowledge of defence standards.
• Background in software engineering (preferably with exposure to DevOps practices).
• Proven ability to facilitate teams in complex, regulated environments.

Soft Skills & Collaboration

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Strong leadership and coaching abilities to guide teams toward high performance.
• Adaptability and resilience in fast‑paced, high‑stakes environments.
• Proactive problem‑solving and a focus on delivering results.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant engineering field, or relevant technical military background with equivalent hands‑on experience.
• Must be eligible for or already hold UK Security Clearance (SC)

Desirable Skills

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) certification.
• Experience with JIRA, Confluence, or other Agile tools.
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
• Familiarity with software development lifecycle (SDLC) in defence or aerospace.

Additional Information

Why join us?

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech‑driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies.

At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.

Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get:

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle & Tech Scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes.

This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected. Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.