Configuration Manager in Bristol

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Configuration Manager to support the growth and development of the Configuration and Data Management Team.

Responsibilities

• Configuration Management Leadership
  • Define, implement, and continuously improve Configuration Management (CM) policies, processes, procedures, and standards.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards, contractual requirements, and regulatory obligations.
  • Act as the Configuration Management Subject Matter Expert (SME) across the organisation.
  • Develop and maintain Configuration Management Plans (CMPs) for programmes and projects.
• Configuration Identification
  • Establish and maintain product structures, configuration item hierarchies, and naming conventions.
  • Define and manage configuration baselines throughout the system lifecycle.
  • Ensure all hardware, software, firmware, documentation, and associated assets are uniquely identified and controlled.
• Change Control
  • Manage engineering change processes and governance frameworks.
  • Facilitate Change Control Boards (CCBs) and Engineering Review Boards.
  • Assess the impact of proposed changes on safety, cost, schedule, performance, and compliance.
  • Ensure changes are reviewed, approved, implemented, and documented in line with organisational procedures.
• Configuration Status Accounting
  • Maintain accurate records of configuration item status, changes, releases, and approvals.
  • Produce configuration reports and metrics for programme and senior management reviews.
  • Ensure full traceability between requirements, design artefacts, verification evidence, and released configurations.
• Verification and Audit
  • Plan and conduct configuration audits including Functional Configuration Audits (FCA) and Physical Configuration Audits (PCA).
  • Support external audits by customers, regulators, certification authorities, and quality assurance functions.
  • Ensure configuration evidence supports safety cases and design assurance activities.
• Safety and Compliance
  • Support the development and maintenance of safety cases where configuration control forms part of the assurance argument.
  • Ensure safety-related products and documentation remain controlled and traceable.
  • Work closely with Safety Engineers and Quality Managers to maintain compliance throughout the product lifecycle.
• Toolset Management
  • Administer and optimise Configuration Management and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools.
  • Maintain data integrity within CM repositories and supporting systems.
  • Support deployment of digital engineering and lifecycle management capabilities.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build strong relationships with engineering teams, programme managers, customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.
  • Provide training, coaching, and guidance on configuration management principles and best practice.
  • Support supplier configuration management activities and audits where required.

Qualifications

• Essential
  • Degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Quality Management, or a related discipline; or equivalent professional experience.
• Desirable
  • Configuration Management certification.
  • Engineering Council registration (EngTech, IEng, or CEng).
  • Project Management qualification (APM, Prince2, PMI).
  • Quality or Safety Management certification.

Essential skills

• Strong understanding of engineering lifecycle processes including systems engineering, design, development, verification, validation, deployment, and support.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.

Desired skills

• Knowledge of ISO 10007 – Quality Management – Configuration Management, EIA-649 Configuration Management Standard, ISO 9001, IEC 61508, ARP4754A, DO-178C, DO-254, EN 50126 / 50128 / 50129, Defence Standards and Government Regulatory Frameworks.

Experience

• An extensive experience as a Configuration Manager (CM).
• Experience with tools such as Teamcenter, Windchill, Siemens Polarion, IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (DOORS or DOOGS Next Gen), Jama Connect, Azure DevOps, SAP, ServiceNow.
• Experience operating formal change control processes and governance forums.
• Experience conducting configuration audits and supporting regulatory inspections.
• Proven experience managing configuration baselines across complex systems, products, or platforms.
• Experience using CM, PLM, ALM, or document management systems.
• Significant experience in Configuration Management within safety-critical engineering environments.
• Experience in one or more of the following sectors: Defence, Aerospace, Rail, Nuclear, Maritime, Automotive, Medical Devices, Energy.

What do I need before I apply

• Ability to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance.
• Compliance with organisational security, information management, and export control requirements.

Benefits

• Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and our peers through good times and challenges.
• We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to expand their skills and take part in inspiring projects.
• Expleo Academy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses.
• Competitive company benefits.
• Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo.
• As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to: Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, communicating and promoting vacancies, offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job, anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required, supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive.