Project Manager

Role Summary

The Project Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering engineering and technology programmes across Skyfly Technologies' product range, spanning both defence and the AXE commercial aircraft programmes. The role holder will manage programme schedules, budgets, risks, and stakeholders, ensuring projects are delivered on time, to specification, and within funding constraints.

This role has a particular focus on grant-funded programmes, including bids to and delivery against Innovate UK and Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) funded projects. The successful candidate will combine strong programme management discipline with the ability to write competitive funding bids and manage the reporting, milestones, and compliance obligations that come with grant-funded work.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and manage delivery of engineering and technology projects across both the defence UAV/drone portfolio and the AXE commercial aircraft programme
• Lead and support the writing of funding bids, including for Innovate UK, ATI, and other grant-funded competitions, working closely with engineering and technical leads to develop compelling, well-costed proposals
• Manage the full lifecycle of Innovate UK / ATI funded programmes once secured, including milestone tracking, claims, reporting, and compliance with funder requirements
• Develop and maintain project plans, budgets, and risk registers, proactively identifying and mitigating schedule, cost, and technical risks
• Coordinate cross-functional teams spanning engineering, manufacturing, and commercial functions to keep projects aligned to scope and objectives
• Act as the primary point of contact for external partners, consortium members, and funding bodies on assigned programmes
• Prepare and present programme status reports, gate reviews, and updates to internal stakeholders and senior leadership
• Manage project documentation, version control, and change control processes across live programmes
• Support procurement and supplier coordination where projects require external design, manufacturing, or test partners
• Ensure projects are delivered in line with relevant aerospace and defence governance and certification milestones

Skills & Competencies

• Proven project/programme management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities
• Demonstrable experience with bid writing, ideally including Innovate UK, ATI, or other UK grant-funding competitions
• Experience managing grant-funded programmes, including milestone reporting, claims, and funder compliance
• Strong organisational skills, with a structured approach to planning, budgeting, and risk management
• Effective communicator, able to work collaboratively across engineering, commercial, and manufacturing disciplines
• Comfortable engaging with external partners, consortium members, and funding bodies
• Confident using project management tools and methodologies (e.g. Gantt charts, RAID logs, stage-gate processes)
• Strong problem-solving skills with a methodical, analytical approach to schedule, cost, and risk challenges
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, early-stage business environment with significant autonomy
• Familiarity with aerospace or defence programme environments is an advantage

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline; a recognised project management qualification (e.g. APM, PRINCE2, PMP) is an advantage
• Several years' experience in project or programme management, ideally within aerospace, defence, or another engineering-led sector
• Demonstrable track record of writing successful funding bids, including Innovate UK and/or ATI competitions
• Experience managing the delivery of grant-funded programmes from award through to completion and final reporting
• Experience working with cross-functional engineering teams on technically complex projects
• Familiarity with aerospace or defence design and certification processes is desirable but not essential
• Security clearance (existing or willingness and eligibility to obtain, given exposure to defence programmes)

Reporting & Team Responsibilities

• Reports to the COO
• Works closely with the Engineering Lead / Head of Engineering and technical leads across both product lines
• Collaborates across both the defence UAV/drone team and the AXE commercial aircraft programme
• Liaises with external funding bodies, consortium partners, suppliers, and manufacturing partners
• Contributes to programme reviews and technical governance across Skyfly's engineering programmes