Project Controls Architect in Wolverhampton

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.

As our Project Controls Architect, you will design and embed a modern, integrated, data-driven project controls ecosystem. Your mission is simple: turn fragmented project data into trusted, real-time insight that leaders can actually act on. You will work at the intersection of projects, data, finance, and technology - mapping how things work today, fixing what doesn’t, and building a future-state that delivers predictability across schedules, resources, and budgets. This is a hands-on role with genuine influence, not a theoretical architecture exercise.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Understanding how project controls really operate today by analysing workflows, data flows, and system interactions.
• Designing a clear, practical target state for an integrated project controls solution - covering processes, data models, automation, and system integrations.
• Leading the introduction of digital tools that reduce manual effort and provide high-quality, real-time project insight.
• Partnering closely with Programme Managers, Finance, PMO, Data, and IT to ensure solutions are usable, scalable, and aligned to business reality.
• Identifying pain points and inefficiencies across people, processes, and tools - then turning them into implementable improvements.
• Defining standards, governance, and best practices to improve data quality, consistency, and reporting.
• Translating business needs into solution designs, user stories, and data configuration requirements.
• Testing and validating solutions to ensure they deliver what the business needs.
• Supporting change, adoption, and training so new capabilities actually get used.
• Monitoring performance and data quality, driving continuous improvement over time.
• Acting as a go-to expert for project controls systems, metrics, and forward-looking insights.

Essential skills include:

• Demonstrated experience mapping end-to-end business processes and developing future-state workflows.
• Proven ability to design and implement data-driven solutions across complex environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, able to influence across multiple business areas.
• Ability to lead change, drive adoption, and guide teams through digital transformation.

Desirable skills include:

• Experience with cloud-based data platforms, data modelling, or API-based integration.
• Familiarity with Agile delivery methodologies.
• Knowledge of predictive analytics, machine learning, or advanced reporting techniques.
• Background in industries with large, complex project environments (engineering, construction, manufacturing, energy, tech).
• Professional certifications (e.g., PMP, PMI-PBA, Lean, Agile, or data-related credentials).
• Hands-on experience with relevant toolsets (e.g., SQL data warehouse, Project Server, Tableau).
• Expertise with project control domains: scheduling, cost control, resource management, risk, reporting.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable insights.