DCS Engineering
Project Manager - Aviation
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Project Manager – Aviation & Advanced Engineering Projects
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time (37 hours per week)
Salary: £45,000 - £55,000 + Excellent Benefits
The Opportunity
Our client, a leading organisation operating within the defence and advanced engineering sector, is seeking an experienced Project Manager to join their growing Programmes team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering innovative projects focused on Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS), advanced aviation technologies, and mission-critical engineering solutions.
Working across a portfolio of technically complex development projects, you will oversee the planning, coordination, and successful delivery of new capability and service development initiatives. This role offers the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies in a highly regulated environment, collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams, customers, and external suppliers to ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.
This position would suit an experienced Project Manager or Senior Project Manager with a strong technical background gained within aviation, aerospace, defence, or a similar engineering environment. Candidates with significant engineering project experience outside of aviation will also be considered.
The Role
As Project Manager, you will take ownership of multiple concurrent projects from initiation through to delivery, ensuring effective planning, governance, and stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
A significant element of the role involves coordinating external suppliers and managing supply chain activities, ensuring that equipment, services, and technical deliverables are provided in line with project schedules and quality expectations.
Working closely with engineering, operational, and commercial teams, you will ensure projects meet technical, financial, and operational objectives while maintaining compliance with industry standards and internal governance processes.
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Key Responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of multiple technical projects, ensuring scope, cost, schedule, and quality objectives are achieved.
- Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules, resource forecasts, and delivery milestones.
- Manage project budgets, costs, and financial reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
- Coordinate cross-functional engineering and technical teams to achieve project objectives.
- Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
- Manage supplier performance and support procurement and supply chain activities to ensure successful project delivery.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, issues, and dependencies.
- Manage project change control processes and ensure effective governance is maintained.
- Monitor project performance through KPIs, reporting, and regular progress reviews.
- Prepare and present project updates to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
- Ensure all project documentation is maintained to a high standard.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across project delivery and PMO processes.
- Contribute to the successful introduction of new products, services, and operational capabilities.
About You
We're looking for an organised, proactive, and technically minded Project Manager who enjoys working in a fast-paced engineering environment and is comfortable managing multiple stakeholders and suppliers.
You will be confident leading complex technical projects while maintaining excellent communication across engineering teams, customers, and external partners.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience delivering complex technical or engineering projects.
- Previous experience within aviation, aerospace, defence, engineering, or advanced technology sectors.
- Strong project planning and scheduling experience.
- Experience managing multiple projects or work packages simultaneously.
- Demonstrable experience managing project budgets, risks, issues, and change control.
- Experience working with external suppliers and managing supply chain activities within a project environment.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
- Experience using Microsoft Project and Microsoft 365 applications.
- Experience producing project reporting, metrics, and performance updates.
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Desirable Experience
- Knowledge or experience of Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS/UAV).
- Experience working with airborne systems, mission systems, or defence technologies.
- Engineering qualification (HNC/HND, Degree, or equivalent).
- Formal Project Management qualification such as APM, PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent.
- Experience using Power BI for project reporting.
What's on Offer
Our client offers the opportunity to work on genuinely innovative engineering programmes that contribute to the development of next-generation aviation and defence capabilities.
In addition to a competitive salary, you'll benefit from an excellent package including:
- Competitive pension contribution
- Annual bonus scheme
- Private medical insurance
- Electric vehicle scheme
- Technology and wellbeing benefits
- Ongoing professional development and training
- Opportunities to work on cutting-edge engineering and aviation projects
- A collaborative and supportive working environment
Apply Now
If you're an experienced Project Manager with a background in aviation, aerospace, or engineering and are looking to work on technically challenging projects that make a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today for a confidential discussion and further information.
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