Project Manager in Oxford

Archangel Lightworks is a connectivity company building wireless technology to create the space-enabled networks of the future. We are passionate about improving humanity's communications infrastructure and solving some of Earth's most critical problems from economic inclusion to climate change. Our start-up is a fast-paced and supportive environment, where you can make your mark as part of a growing team and work on the cutting-edge of innovation.

As Project Manager, you will oversee internal and external projects, ranging from furthering the R&D activities of our flagship Optical Ground Station, TERRA-M, which will revolutionise space-to-ground communications with laser communication technology, to planning international test campaigns. Your work will directly contribute to the successful delivery of projects that bring cutting-edge laser communication technologies to market, helping to revolutionise global connectivity.

You will work closely with the Programme Manager and Engineering Manager to ensure the successful execution of our development portfolio on time, within scope, and within budget. In this role, you will:

• Manage assigned projects to the specified scope, timeline, and cost, while handling expectations and scope changes as required. This includes supporting and collaborating with the growing PM and Engineering teams to ensure successful delivery and, when appropriate, raising and resolving interdependent issues.
• Collaborate with the engineering team to translate technical requirements and work areas into clear project scopes and plans.
• Work closely with Technical Leads to ensure that Product Development Plans remain aligned with the backlog of technical tasks; and provide accurate inputs into Programme and Portfolio level controls.
• Proactively identify and manage project risks, interdependencies, and their impact on timelines and cross-functional work streams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers and customers (e.g., ESA, IUK). Knowledge and experience of their bid, delivery, reporting and closedown frameworks is highly beneficial.
• Work collaboratively with the PM team to ensure alignment across the development portfolio.
• Contribute to the development of project management tools and processes for the growing PM team. Familiarity with Jira, MS Project and Slack are highly beneficial.
• Coordinate and participate in formal documentation review and change control processes.

Requirements:

• Proven, demonstrable experience successfully delivering projects within a technical engineering or scientific environment, with excellent control and understanding of project finances and their inputs into company-wide financial management.
• Stakeholder management of quasi-governmental organisations and aerospace primes e.g. Innovate UK, UKSA, ESA.
• Familiarity with stage-gate development processes and product development cycles.
• Qualification/accreditation in project management. Equivalent extensive and relevant project management experience; or completion of a recognised project management apprenticeship supplemented by relevant industry experience will also be considered.

Desirable additional skills:

• Domain knowledge in satellite systems, laser communication technology, or optical engineering. While you don't need to be a subject matter expert, an understanding of these areas is highly beneficial due to the technical nature of our work.
• Experience working in an engineering agile environment is highly beneficial. We operate following Agile processes on a daily-to-weekly basis, underpinned by long term waterfall plans.
• Trial/test campaign management e.g. space, aerospace testing.
• Full lifecycle product development in Hardware and/or Software within a scientific or engineering environment.
• Transferring R&D to a production and manufacturing environment.
• Developing complex optical products.
• Bid writing skills, especially for grant-funded projects (e.g. Innovate UK, ESA).
• Change management experience in scaling tools and processes within a fast-growing organisation.

Location: Our office is based in Osney Mead, Oxford. There will be opportunity to work from home as agreed with your line manager.

Compensation & Perks:

• The opportunity to make a difference building cutting edge technology to support a world-changing vision.
• Options for hybrid working and custom arrangements that matter to you.
• 25 days annual leave allowance plus bank holidays.
• Equity options in a growing start-up.
• Investment in you to help you grow, with training resources and budget.
• Supportive team culture with high levels of ownership and responsibility.
• Annual team retreat, regular socials and weekly team lunch.
• Variety of additional perks including learning and wellbeing app subscriptions.