Senior Technical Programme Manager - Lab Test

Vertical Aerospace
Bristol, United Kingdom
2 months ago
Job Type
Permanent
Seniority
Senior
Posted
11 Feb 2026 (2 months ago)

Our Mission


At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky.


We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

We’re looking for a Senior Technical Programme Manager – Test to lead the delivery of our test capability and execution programmes in support of aircraft certification. This is a high-impact role at the centre of engineering, governance, and delivery - where programme discipline meets technical complexity.

If you thrive in regulated environments, understand what it takes to certify aerospace hardware, and know how to bring clarity to cross-functional delivery, this is where you step in.

What you'll do

You will own the integration and coordination of test capability delivery to support Valo certification and entry into service. That means:

  • Partnering with aircraft system teams to define capability requirements and ensure readiness against programme milestones

  • Ensuring test hardware availability in close collaboration with procurement and supply chain

  • Leading the delivery of new test facilities - labs, rigs, and equipment - fully aligned to the Integrated Master Schedule

  • Consolidating Verification & Validation plans into a robust Master Test Schedule, managing change, variance and emerging priorities

  • Supporting the Head of Test with cost centre management, forecasting and spend tracking

  • Driving visibility and accountability using Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence), identifying risks, blockers and critical path threats early

  • Working with engineering leaders to forecast resource needs and build evidence-based business cases to mitigate delivery risk

What you'll bring

  • Proven experience delivering complex technical programmes in aerospace, automotive or another safety-critical, high-tech environment

  • Strong scheduling and planning expertise using Microsoft Project and Atlassian toolsets

  • Deep understanding of programme governance - risk, change control, reporting, and stakeholder management

  • Experience managing cost centres, tracking spend, and forecasting in an engineering environment

  • Clear, confident communicator who can influence senior stakeholders and technical leads alike

  • Proactive mindset - you surface issues early and drive resolution decisively

  • Ability to build structured, measurable plans that balance rigour with adaptability

  • Understanding of data, reporting and business intelligence principles

  • Degree-qualified in Engineering, Project Management or a related technical discipline

#LI-OS1

What can you expect from us?

We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career.

Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.

Our benefits

Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.

  • 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday

  • 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell)

  • 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership

  • Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits

  • Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand)

  • Company performance based bonus - rewarding company and individual performance

  • Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee

  • Company Pension Scheme - 5% and we match it

  • Breakfast on us, every day

We may just be the hardest job you've ever had, but we're confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Disclaimer Statement

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Project Manager – Airframe

Vertical Aerospace Bristol, BS1 3BF, United Kingdom
Permanent

Senior Flight Control Actuation Manager

Vertical Aerospace Bristol, BS1 3BF, United Kingdom
Permanent

Aircraft Senior Production Manager

Vertical Aerospace Cotswold, United Kingdom
Permanent

Business Development Manager - Defence

Jonathan Lee Recruitment Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Senior Geoscientist

Penguin Recruitment Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
£40,000 – £50,000 pa

Senior Battery System Engineer

Vertical Aerospace Bristol, BS1 3BF, United Kingdom
Permanent

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Where to Advertise UAV Jobs in the UK (2026 Guide)

Advertising UAV jobs in the UK requires a different approach to most technical hiring. The candidate pool spans aeronautical engineers, embedded systems developers, flight control specialists, RF engineers, payload integration experts and regulatory affairs professionals — a highly specific multidisciplinary mix that general job boards are poorly equipped to reach. The strongest UAV candidates often come from defence backgrounds, aerospace primes or academic research groups, and move between roles through specialist networks, industry events and sector-specific channels rather than mainstream platforms. This guide, published by UAVJobs.co.uk, covers where to advertise UAV and drone roles in the UK in 2026, how the main platforms compare, what employers should expect to pay, and what the data says about hiring across different role types.

New UAV Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and Global Companies Powering Drone and Autonomous Aviation Careers

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are transforming how industries operate — from delivery and inspection to defence, agriculture, and emergency response. As regulations evolve and technology matures, demand for skilled professionals with expertise in UAV systems, autonomy, robotics, perception, and safety is rising rapidly. For individuals exploring roles on www.UAVJobs.co.uk , knowing which organisations are innovating, scaling, winning contracts, or investing in the UK market can make a critical difference when planning your career. This article highlights the top UAV employers to watch in 2026, from cutting‑edge UK startups to global drone innovators with growing UK operations.

How Many UAV Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a UAV Job?

If you’re aiming for a role in the Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) industry, it can feel like every job advert expects you to know a never-ending list of tools: flight control systems, autopilot frameworks, simulation platforms, sensor suites, communication stacks, mission planning software, GIS tools — and on it goes. With so many names and acronyms, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and assume you must learn every tool under the sun before you’ll be taken seriously by employers. Here’s the honest truth most UAV hiring managers won’t say out loud: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool — they hire you because you can use the right tools to solve real UAV problems safely, reliably and in context. Tools matter — absolutely — but they always serve a purpose: solving problems, reducing risk, improving performance, or guiding safer operations. So the real question isn’t how many tools you should know — it’s: which tools you should master, in what context, and why. This article breaks down what employers actually expect, which tools are essential, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you look credible, confident and job-ready.