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- Tasks: Lead engineering teams on innovative defence projects, ensuring technical excellence and timely delivery.
- Company: Join ALTEN, a global leader in engineering and technology consultancy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private medical insurance, flexible working, and tailored career development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in project engineering with strong leadership and communication skills.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with diverse projects and a supportive team culture.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 65000 £ per year.
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 an Engineering Project Leader and take the helm of engineering delivery for cutting-edge defence projects spanning air and land-based systems. In this pivotal role, you will drive project execution, ensuring technical excellence, on-time delivery, and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. Your leadership will directly contribute to the success of mission-critical programmes, where innovation and precision are paramount.
Location: Reading
On-site: 4 days per week minimum
Seniority: Senior (10+ years of experience)
Clearance: Due to the nature of the work, candidates must be eligible to work in the UK and capable of obtaining BPSS clearance.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate engineering delivery teams, driving project execution in terms of time, cost, and quality.
- Support the creation of UPC (Unit Production Cost) targets and ensure alignment with project goals.
- Oversee the technical quality of the project, ensuring compliance with engineering standards and best practices.
- Collaborate closely with the Program Manager to align engineering activities with programme objectives.
- Apply strong scheduling, estimation, and risk management to ensure project success.
- Provide team leadership, direction, and clear communication to drive results and foster a high-performance culture.
Qualifications Required Skills
- 10+ years of experience in project engineering, with a focus on engineering development lifecycles in defence. (Aerospace and Space experience can also be considered)
- Proven ability to lead and direct engineering teams, ensuring delivery of technical objectives.
- Strong scheduling, estimation, and risk management skills.
- Experience in cost and quality management for engineering projects.
- Excellent communication, organisation, and presentation skills to drive engineering delivery.
- Familiarity with defence development processes and standards.
- Strong team leadership and ability to motivate and guide multidisciplinary teams.
- Clear communication and a drive for results, ensuring alignment and accountability.
- Adaptability in fast-paced, regulated environments.
- Proactive problem-solving and decision-making.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant engineering field or relevant technical military background with equivalent hands-on experience.
- Experience with agile or hybrid project management methodologies.
- Knowledge of systems engineering principles and lifecycle management.
- Background in aerospace or defence programmes, particularly air and land-based systems.
- Familiarity with earned value management (EVM) and project governance frameworks.
Additional Information
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.
- 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. 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.
Engineering Project Leader (Defence) in Reading employer: ALTEN
Contact Detail:
ALTEN Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Project Leader (Defence) in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the defence sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that Engineering Project Leader role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and project management skills. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they align with the key responsibilities of the role at ALTEN.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! During interviews, highlight examples where you've successfully led teams and delivered projects on time and within budget. This is crucial for the Engineering Project Leader position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining ALTEN and contributing to innovative defence projects.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Project Leader (Defence) in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Engineering Project Leader role. Highlight your experience in project engineering, especially in defence, and showcase your leadership skills. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission to drive technological advancement.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your skills can contribute to our cutting-edge projects. Be sure to mention any relevant experience with agile methodologies or systems engineering principles.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and deliver results. Use metrics where possible to quantify your success—this helps us see the impact you've made in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Plus, it shows you're keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at ALTEN
✨Know Your Engineering Fundamentals
Brush up on your engineering principles, especially those relevant to defence projects. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied these in past roles, particularly in project delivery and compliance with engineering standards.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Highlight your experience in leading multidisciplinary teams. Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to motivate and guide teams towards achieving technical objectives and project goals.
✨Master the Art of Communication
Effective communication is key in this role. Practice articulating complex engineering concepts clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss how you’ve ensured alignment and accountability within your teams.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments. Think of specific challenges you've faced in previous projects and how you managed risks and ensured on-time delivery.
