Systems / Project Engineering Manager – NATS (National Air Traffic Services)
- Aberdeen Airport (mainly onsite)
- 6 months initial contract
- Inside IR35
Role details:
NATS are looking for a Systems / Project Engineering Manager to support the delivery of complex, safety-critical systems within the Air Traffic Management space.
This role is best suited to someone with a strong systems engineering background who has moved into a technical leadership role and is comfortable owning delivery of integrated systems in live environments.
The project involves deploying NATS technology (likely comms or surveillance systems) into offshore environments, so experience working with real-world integration and installation is important.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading the technical delivery of engineering work packages from definition through to deployment
- Applying systems engineering principles across the full lifecycle (requirements, design, integration, testing)
- Making sure solutions are joined-up, technically sound, and fit for use in a safety-critical environment
- Managing and guiding a multi-disciplinary team of engineers
- Acting as the main technical contact for stakeholders and suppliers
- Identifying and managing technical risks and integration challenges
- Ensuring the right level of engineering governance and safety assurance is in place
What we’re looking for:
- Strong background in systems engineering (not just project management)
- Experience working in a safety-critical environment such as Air Traffic Management, Defence, Rail or Oil & Gas / offshore
- Proven experience delivering complex systems involving both hardware and software
- Ability to own technical delivery, not just coordinate it
- Experience leading engineering teams and working with suppliers
- Comfortable working with ambiguity and making decisions
The kind of person that fits:
- Someone who understands how systems come together end-to-end
- Can challenge engineers and stakeholders from a technical standpoint
- Used to working in structured, regulated environments
- Practical and delivery-focused — able to balance time, cost and quality
- Confident communicator who can explain technical issues clearly
Qualifications / background:
- Engineering qualification (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline
- Strong, demonstrable experience in similar roles is more important than formal qualifications
This isn’t a pure Project Management role — we’re specifically looking for someone who comes from a systems engineering background and still leads from a technical position.
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