At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major spacecraft mission from design to launch, ensuring all objectives are met.
- Company: Join a pioneering space sector company in London with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a personalised career path, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Diverse projects, supportive culture, and opportunities for growth await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the exciting field of space exploration and technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in spacecraft programmes and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Seeking an experienced Program Manager to join our team in London to lead the delivery of a major spacecraft mission within the space sector. You will oversee programme execution from early design phases through integration, testing, and final mission readiness, ensuring technical, schedule, and delivery objectives are met across all engineering domains.
Location: London
On Site: 1‑2x a month
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the end‑to‑end programme delivery for a complex spacecraft mission, ensuring alignment with mission objectives and customer expectations.
- Own the programme schedule, milestones, dependencies, and critical paths, driving on‑time delivery across all work packages.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams (systems, electrical, mechanical, RF, software, payload, AIT) to maintain programme coherence.
- Oversee risk management, identifying programme‑level risks and implementing mitigation strategies with engineering leads.
- Manage budget, resources, and reporting, ensuring financial and operational transparency throughout the programme lifecycle.
- Lead technical and programme reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR), ensuring readiness, completeness, and quality of deliverables.
- Maintain strong stakeholder communication, providing clear updates on progress, risks, decisions, and required actions.
- Ensure programme activities comply with high‑reliability space standards, quality requirements, and mission constraints.
- Oversee configuration control, ensuring changes are properly assessed, approved, and documented.
- Support spacecraft integration, test, and verification phases, ensuring smooth transitions into AIT and mission readiness.
- Drive continuous improvement in programme processes, communication flows, and delivery efficiency.
- Represent the programme at senior‑level discussions, customer meetings, and strategic planning sessions.
Qualifications Required Skills:
- Mandatory Space industry experience — direct involvement in spacecraft programmes, satellite development, or mission‑critical space projects.
- Proven experience managing complex technical programmes with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Strong understanding of spacecraft development lifecycles (design, integration, testing, verification).
- Skilled in schedule management, milestone tracking, and programme‑level planning.
- Experience with risk management, issue tracking, and mitigation planning.
- Ability to interpret technical documentation and communicate effectively with engineering leads and stakeholders.
- Strong organisational, leadership, and communication skills.
- Experience leading programme reviews and reporting to senior management.
Required Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or military experience.
- Familiarity with ECSS or similar space‑industry standards.
- Experience with configuration management and change‑control processes.
- Exposure to spacecraft AIT workflows and programme‑level test campaign planning.
- Understanding of mission operations preparation and launch‑site coordination.
- Experience with project management tools and methodologies.
- Ability to support contract management, supplier coordination, and external partner communication.
Additional Information:
- A personalised career path and a rewarding management style.
- A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries.
- Private Medical Insurance.
- 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. ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. 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.
Program Manager employer: ALTEN
ALTEN is an exceptional employer located in London, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration within the space sector. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide personalised career paths, diverse engineering projects, and a supportive culture that values inclusivity and teamwork. Our comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance and flexible working arrangements, ensures that our employees thrive both professionally and personally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Program Manager
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with ALTEN for a Program Manager. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Program Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at ALTEN, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At ALTEN, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at ALTEN
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with ALTEN.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with ALTEN. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like ALTEN love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
