Programme Manager

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. Help Build Europe's Hypersonic Capability At Hypersonica, we're redefining what's possible in European defence technology. We exist to deliver speed, resilience, and technological independence at a pace that sets a new standard. We are a small, elite team working on problems that matter, and solving them fast.

As our Programme Manager you're not stepping into a predefined role. You're joining a talent dense environment where every individual shapes the direction of the company. Our philosophy is to hire a small number of exceptional people with broad, deep technical capability, strong judgement, and the ability to operate autonomously. We hire for talent, not rigid boxes. This role represents a business need, but the way it evolves will be shaped by the individual. If you've achieved what others said was impossible, or you bring a unique combination of skills that doesn't fit a traditional mould, we want to hear from you. The work you do here directly contributes to Europe's technological independence.

What you'll do

• Own end to end delivery of complex programmes across the UK, with full accountability for schedule, cost, technical progress, and customer outcomes.
• Translate contracts, customer intent, and military requirements into executable delivery plans that prioritise speed, learning, and iteration.
• Lead cross functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain, and test, driving alignment, decision making, and rapid issue resolution.
• Act as the primary interface with UK MoD customers, DE&S delivery teams, and partners, maintaining clarity on objectives, milestones, risks, and tradeoffs.
• Govern programme execution through clear milestones, critical paths, and data driven reporting; focusing on what actually moves delivery forward.
• Manage suppliers and subcontractors with a bias toward pace, accountability, and results, not legacy procurement overhead.
• Own programme level risk management, identifying issues early and driving decisive mitigation rather than deferring to governance forums.
• Lead commercial and delivery negotiations within programme scope, balancing contractual obligations with technical and schedule reality.
• Prepare and present concise, high signal programme updates and reviews for customers and internal leadership.
• Champion continuous improvement in programme execution, actively stripping out unnecessary process, friction, and delay.
• Build and reinforce a high ownership programme culture where problems surface early, decisions are made quickly, and delivery is the measure of success.

Who you are

• A programme or project professional with >4 years' experience in defence, aerospace, policy, or similarly high-consequence environments.
• Experienced working with the UK MoD and DE&S, including procurement, compliance, and delivery within live programmes.
• Comfortable owning budgets, schedules, and risk, and making hard trade-offs under delivery pressure.
• A track record of leading commercial and delivery negotiations within active defence programmes.
• Able to operate confidently between government customers and private sector engineering teams, translating intent into executable action.
• Proven at coordinating cross-functional teams and external suppliers to deliver outcomes, not activity.
• Capable of producing clear, decision-grade programme reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Motivated by building, testing, and delivering real capability, not managing process.

What we offer

• A mission driven environment with the opportunity to work on one of Europe's most consequential defence challenges, with direct impact on sovereign capability and security.
• Daily collaboration with top experts across engineering, operations, and defence, with real opportunity to learn from the best, contribute, and grow.
• High ownership and autonomy; no time tracking, no micromanagement, just clear objectives and accountability for outcomes.
• A fast paced environment where good ideas are implemented quickly, and feedback from test and flight drives real decisions.
• A culture that values clarity, integrity, and excellence, and supports people who take initiative and push boundaries responsibly.
• Competitive compensation and real share options aligned to responsibility and impact, not tenure or hierarchy.

At Hypersonica, every hire raises the bar. We are deliberately small, intensely capable, and deeply mission-driven. If this role feels like a strong fit, or if you believe you bring something exceptional that goes beyond the description, we encourage you to apply. Hypersonica is an equal-opportunity employer and assesses candidates solely on merit, capability, and potential. You can apply directly to this role or reach out to Nathan Sweeney, Head of Talent. We review every application and aim to respond to all candidates within two weeks, whether the answer is yes or no.