Systems Engineering Manager - Programmes in Maidenhead

Join the team redefining defense technology. From engineering systems that save lives to leading programs that change the battlefield—find your place in the future of defense.

Our Cyber business unit is at the forefront of pioneering advanced cryptographic and key management solutions, facilitating the confidential exchange of vital information for customers operating at both tactical and strategic echelons. Join our team and participate in the innovation that ensures the highest security and trust worldwide.

The Ultra Engineering function manages a portfolio of specialist capabilities, generating highly differentiated solutions and products by applying electronic, mechanical, and software technologies in demanding and critical environments to meet customer needs.

The Project/Systems Engineering function in Ultra provides expertise to all projects through the bid and full development lifecycle. It ensures that both project and statutory requirements are met and works to improve the effectiveness of the systems design function within the company. It is responsible for the system architecture and integration of the solution. It is responsible for design for cost and design for manufacture.

A professional at this grade applies technical / professional knowledge, making independent judgements based on practice and significant previous experience to support decision making. Seen as a referral point or more senior team member to escalate more complex problems. Roles will act independently with minimal guidance, and may act as project managers/formal mentors for junior staff.

• Responsible for executing the engineering delivery of a programme/numerous projects of a variety of sizes.
• Supports the Programme Management team in the planning and scheduling of their programme/projects; proposes optimisations to schedule logic that improve schedule.
• Identifies resource needs in good time for their introduction to the programme/projects; works with the discipline leads, at programme and project levels, to ensure that resource requirements are generally always met; provides input to longer term recruitment strategy (skills gap identification etc.); adapts to manage resource problems on programme/projects.
• Ensures that engineering artefacts for their programme/projects are delivered to budget and schedule; strives to beat schedule and deliver improved margin.
• Quickly and clearly raises resource concerns or any other impediments to programme/projects success; proposes and manages solutions to those; requires only limited support in this activity.
• Articulates and quantifies technical risks on the project; actively manages their mitigation to minimise risk to programme/projects.
• Is responsible for the engineering budget on the programme/projects and both monitors and forecasts costs to completion; seamlessly implements solutions to remedy overspend or schedule slip; requires only limited support in this activity.
• Coordinates all engineering resources on the programme/projects; performs day-to-day tasking.
• Provides any input required for business and customer reporting; proposes improved means of monitoring and reporting (metrics); represents the company on their programme/projects with customers, suppliers and subcontractors.
• Ensures that all engineering work carried out on the programme/projects is pre-authorised; proposes solutions that are cheaper/quicker than the obvious.
• Proposes improvements and drives innovation to increase programme/projects margin.
• Effectively resolves any concerns with other functions (e.g. production engineering, test systems); optimises business needs across all functions.
• Manage security of information as defined in the Security manual.

Due to the nature of the programs we deliver for our customers, candidates may need to obtain the relevant security clearance or handle export-controlled material as defined by the role's requirements. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance for the role. Due to the nature of our work, you must be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.

Every employee is critical to our success, and as such, we offer a range of flexible employee benefits, including:

• Participation in an Annual Bonus Scheme
• Private Medical Cover
• 25 days’ holiday (plus Bank Holidays) with the option to buy an extra 5 days
• Pension Contribution
• 4 x Life Assurance Cover
• Flexible working hours with opportunity for a 1pm finish on a Friday
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme, will writing and more
• Security Clearance Allowance – where relevant and subject to you holding the required security clearance

At Ultra I&C, we are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusivity. Underpinned by our values, behaviours, and policies, we want you to feel empowered to be the best version of yourself. We also believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures will increase our diversity of thinking, ensuring we successfully deliver to our customers. We, therefore, do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also support requests for flexible working arrangements wherever possible.