Senior Project Engineering Manager

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Purpose Of The Job

Lead the technical delivery of one high profile or multiple complex work packages for Critical National Infrastructure in the Air Traffic Management domain. This encompasses a range of technologies, software applications, and hardware infrastructure used for managing and controlling air traffic, utilising advanced technologies such as virtualised platforms, machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence. These systems handle tasks such as flight planning, communication, surveillance, navigation, managing Unmanned Air Systems, and weather information dissemination. Co‑ordinate the technical alignment and resource management for several work packages.

Principal Accountabilities

• Apply systems engineering principles to define, plan and deliver the scope of activities within high profile or multiple complex work packages of a project, to achieve the required outcomes.
• Accountable for the quality and alignment of the outputs of assigned work packages.
• Technical point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Accountable to the senior engineering lead for the technical delivery of the work packages managed by the job holder and the work packages within their project(s).

Autonomy

Ability to work autonomously. The job holder will tailor and agree delivery processes to suit the complexity of the scope of work. The job holder will be accountable that technical delivery plans for the scope of work are following agreed policies and processes. Provide assurance of the content of plans and work packages to project and programme managers and business stakeholders.

Job Scope

Responsible for managing and executing the scope of work, defining the activities for one or multiple work packages across one or multiple project(s).

Experience, Qualification & Skills

• Ensure that the collection of work packages deliver a complete, coherent, sustainable and cost-effective solution to meet all stakeholder requirements.
• Engage with resource managers to secure, and ensure early deconfliction of the resource required to deliver the scope of work.
• Deliver the activities defined in the work package(s) to Cost, Quality and Timescale targets, while collaborating across multiple delivery functions and subject matter experts (e.g. Safety, Supply Chain).
• Can build, own and update technical delivery plans while providing challenge and recommendations that allow for an effective and achievable plan to be deliverable, managing dependencies throughout, and identifying the resource required to deliver the plan.
• Ensure appropriate technical governance is tailored, applied and adhered to for the scope of work.
• Follows best practice within the NATS’ safety and service principles, adhering to engineering ethics.
• Provides task management and direction to a team of engineers and subject matter experts.
• Problem solves challenges that arise both within their scope of work and wider using prior experiences and networking to lead problems to a resolution.
• Work with 3rd Party suppliers to manage the execution of out-sourced activities to the agreed plan, pro‑actively managing emerging risks.
• Proactively identify and manage technical delivery risks related to the scope of work.
• Identify “business as usual” activities from the project that require definition and handover to service operational teams.
• Provide concise and regular updates on the scope of work to management through effective, tailored and confident communication methods.
• Advocate of the NATS behaviours.

Professional engineering qualification to Higher National Certificate (Level 4 or SQF Level 7) in Electronics, Telecommunications or Computer Science or other relevant Engineering qualification discipline; in lieu of the above qualifications the candidate will be required to demonstrate one of the following alternative criteria: Relevant lower level engineering qualifications such as an Apprenticeship coupled with demonstrable engineering experience in a relevant field (may include but not limited to: RAF, Navy, Rail, other Safety Critical environment). Evidence of substantial experience gained in a relevant transferable environment (such as ATSEP) gained over a significant period. Demonstrable experience in systems engineering or technical project delivery roles, within safety‑critical environments. Enthusiastic, flexible and a responsive person with the ability to plan and organise. Track record in making key decisions independently. Able to work under pressure without compromising outcomes. Confidence to challenge peers and senior colleagues through constructive approaches, providing recommendations and driving decisions. Proven record of identifying solutions that focus on delivering pragmatic approaches, challenging the status quo where applicable, appreciating and able to balance cost, quality, and time and driving such solutions into delivery. Confident communicator with all levels of stakeholders ranging from technical members of the team to senior business stakeholders. Ability to translate complex engineering issues into plain English. Appreciation and understanding for other department’s needs and supports them to achieve the desired outcomes. Demonstrable track record of resolving conflicts within teams through both empathy and driven leadership; building positive relationships with stakeholders. Can demonstrate initiative and experience to proactively identify potential issues before they occur and being prepared with answers to any key stakeholder questions. Experience of task management of multidisciplinary teams located across multiple sites; including integrated teams comprising permanent staff, temporary contractors and 3rd party suppliers, through effective delegation and prioritisation.

Please note we will consider candidates based in Swanwick, Whiteley or Prestwick. We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally. We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part‑time working arrangements.

EEO Statement

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.