Principal Consultant in Product Lifecycle Management - Aerospace & Defence in Bristol

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2-3 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site. Travel to client site will be necessary as and when the client requires. This role can be based from our Bristol, London (Victoria) or Manchester.

Our Systems Insights & Solutions team are looking for a Principal Consultant in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) with experience in Aerospace & Defence or related discrete manufacturing industries. We believe that business value can be derived from PLM solutions when the correct application of end-to-end process thinking combines with enabling technology and the right transformation approach. As a Principal Consultant within Systems Insights and Solutions, you will take a leading role on projects that have a real impact on our clients’ ability to deliver new products, delivering game changing solutions. This role will focus upon the delivery of PLM solutions supporting all phases of the product lifecycle, with primary focus on Digital Engineering:

• Product and Technology Portfolio Management
• Programme Delivery and Governance
• Mission Driven Systems Engineering
• Multi-Disciplinary Design and Optimisation
• Connected Verification and Certification
• Smart Manufacturing
• Value Chain Collaboration & Intelligence
• Optimised Sustainment and Availability

We excel at working in complex environments to solve problems in collaboration with our clients. We often partner with vendors and other consultancies to bring the best team to address our clients’ needs. Typical projects will include:

• Carrying out PLM diagnostic and development of business case
• Defining the business architecture / operating model, requirements and PLM solution blueprint
• Leading PLM Transformation initiatives
• Leading PLM Optimisation initiatives

Essential qualifications and experience:

• PLM Leadership: 10+ years of PLM experience, working with the major PLM vendors to design and deploy their solutions. Experience working with Siemens solutions will be an advantage.
• Technical Expertise: Deep hands‑on expertise in core PLM processes, such as BOM management, change/config, variant/options management, CAD/CAE integration, ALM/requirements trace, maintenance and through‑life support.
• Business acumen: Experience in shaping business cases and implementation roadmaps for investment in PLM solutions. Ability to hold executive level conversations to build alignment on a PLM transformation vision.
• Prior consulting experience. Ability to manage client stakeholders, and all aspects of the consulting engagement lifecycle.

Desirable qualifications and experience:

• Degree in engineering or related subject.
• Standards & Frameworks: Proficiency in ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288, TOGAF, EIA‑649, STEP/PLCS awareness, AS9145, ISO 9001/27001.
• Understanding of defence export‑control constraints.
• Industry Experience: Experience and knowledge of key working practices in Defence, or other discrete manufacturing industries.

We know the skill-gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you. Apply today by completing our online application.

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance. All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK. We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It’s about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work. Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We’re focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on recruitmentenquiries@paconsulting.com.