Senior Engineering Project Manager

Elev8 Recruitment Ltd; Essex; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the defense sector is seeking an experienced project manager to oversee complex programs. In this pivotal role, you will have full ownership from the bid phase to delivery, guiding high-value projects while managing risks and negotiating with technical leads and stakeholders. The position offers competitive compensation, hybrid working options, and opportunities for professional development within a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Hybrid working

25 days holiday plus bank holidays and shutdowns

4% pension and life assurance

Career progression and L&D investment

Mental health support

Social events

Qualifications

• 7+ years in project management, with 3+ years in a senior capacity.
• Experience managing external contracts and risk-heavy deliverables.
• Ideally delivered high-value, high-complexity projects in defense or aerospace.

Responsibilities

• Lead large, complex defense programs from bid to delivery.
• Manage risk, define scope, negotiate terms with stakeholders.
• Deliver multi-million-pound contracts with high expectations.

Skills

Project Management

Contract Management

Risk Management

Stakeholder Management

Leadership

Negotiation

Education

PRINCE2 or PMP certification

Job description

Tired of being the firefighter for someone else s badly scoped project?
If you re constantly cleaning up messes with no authority to fix the root cause, this is your sign to step into something better - with full ownership, real backing, and proper commercial clout.

Why this role is different

This isn t just Gantt charts and gate reviews. You ll lead large, complex defence programmes from bid to delivery, with the authority and autonomy to shape how they run. That includes managing risk, defining scope, negotiating terms, and working directly with technical leads and senior stakeholders.

They don t want a glorified PMO coordinator they want a strategic operator who can see the big picture and drive the details.

What they re about

This business delivers highly engineered solutions into the defence sector no fluff, no hype, just serious systems that have to work. They operate with the autonomy of a self-contained unit, but with the resources of a larger group behind them.

You ll be part of the leadership team delivering into multi-million-pound contracts where expectations are high, specs are tight, and delays aren t tolerated.

What s in it for you

• End-to-end project control from bid to post-delivery review
• Direct client access, supplier negotiation, and team leadership
• Hybrid working, early Friday finishes
• 25 days holiday plus bank hols and Christmas shutdown
• 4% pension, life assurance, sick pay
• Proper L&D investment, career progression, and support
• Mental health support, free parking, social events (voluntary)

Who would thrive here

You ve delivered high-value, high-complexity engineering projects ideally in defence, aerospace, or a similarly demanding field. You re commercially sharp, calm under pressure, and you know how to run a contract, not just track one.

You ve led multi-functional teams, dealt with C-suite stakeholders, and navigated client politics without losing your edge. You re already BPSS cleared, or more than happy to get it done.

Experience-wise, you ll need:

• 7+ years in project management
• 3+ years in a senior capacity
• Experience managing external contracts and risk-heavy deliverables
• PRINCE2, PMP or equivalent preferred

Time to lead without limits?

Send over your CV or drop us a message for the details no red tape, just the info you need