Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Programme Manager

Shenstone
6 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Programme Planning Manager

Healthy & Safety Manager

Geomatics Surveyor

M&E Lead Engineer

M&E Lead Engineer

M&E Lead Engineer

Programme Manager - Lichfield - £35/hr to £40/hr LTD - Outside IR35 - Initial 6 month contract

Have you successfully led complex defence or aerospace programmes, delivering low volume components or systems to prime contractors? Are you confident liaising with senior stakeholders and suppliers while managing programme delivery from concept to completion? 

This Programme Manager role offers you the chance to lead innovative and high-profile projects, working with cutting-edge technologies and collaborating with some of the industry's leading professionals. If you thrive in a dynamic environment and are passionate about delivering excellence, this could be the perfect role for you.

What You Will Do:

Liaise directly with customers to conduct programme reviews and ensure seamless communication.
Manage established suppliers to guarantee programme deliverables are met on time and to specification.
Ensure compliance with internal processes and customer contracts or statements of work.
Oversee programme delivery, including cost management and resource allocation working internally with engineering, marketing and supply chain.
Analyse risks, develop avoidance strategies, and establish contingency plans to mitigate potential issues.
Keep all stakeholders informed of progress, providing regular updates and supporting status reviews for customers and senior management.
What You Will Bring:

Relevant qualifications (HND level or equivalent) and experience in defence industry preferred
A strong technical background to understand the technologies and challenges associated with the product. 
Engine experience ideal, key is the understanding of component parts.
Proven experience in effectively communicating with customers and senior management.
A confident and professional manner when working with suppliers and stakeholders.
The ability to thrive in a team environment while managing multiple priorities.
This role plays a critical part in driving the success of the company's projects and ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions to customers. By joining this organisation, you will contribute to its reputation as a leading supplier of power-plant, engine, and UAV components to defence sector prime contractors across the UK and internationally. 

Interested? 

If you're ready to step into a challenging and rewarding role as a Programme Manager, apply today to start your journey with this exceptional company. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a real impact in the defence and aerospace industry! This is an urgent role and potential candidates will need to meet ITAR nationality requirements.

Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.

In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included

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.

UAV & Drone Hiring Trends 2026: What to Watch Out For (For Job Seekers & Recruiters)

As we move into 2026, the UK UAV (uncrewed aerial vehicle) and drone jobs market is maturing fast. The “shiny new toy” phase is over. Public expectations and regulation are tougher, budgets are more closely scrutinised, and clients want measurable outcomes – safer inspections, faster data, lower costs, better evidence – not just impressive footage. At the same time, demand for UAV services in infrastructure inspection, construction, energy, agriculture, emergency response, defence and media continues to grow. Long-term trends like asset digitisation, smart cities, and net-zero infrastructure all rely on high-quality aerial data and remote operations. The result: fewer opportunistic one-off drone gigs, and more emphasis on professional UAV operations, data workflows and compliant, scalable services. Whether you’re: A job seeker looking for “UAV jobs in the UK”, “drone pilot jobs UK”, or “remote UAS operator roles”, or A recruiter or hiring manager trying to understand “UAV hiring trends 2026” and “how to hire drone pilots and UAS engineers”, …this guide breaks down what’s changing – and what to do about it.

UAV (Drones) Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK unmanned aviation (UAV/UAS/RPAS) hiring has shifted from aircraft‑type buzzwords to capability‑driven evaluation across flight ops, autonomy, data products, safety & regulatory compliance. Employers want proof you can plan, fly, analyse and scale UAV systems safely and economically—VLOS/A2 CofC, GVC, BVLOS & SORA ops, UTM integrations, command‑and‑control resilience, sense‑and‑avoid, payload pipelines, and fleet reliability. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for UAV pilots/ops managers, flight test engineers, autonomy/perception, GNC/control, UTM/backend, safety & airworthiness, data processing/analysis, and field engineering roles. Who this is for: UAV pilots & flight ops, mission planners, flight test & safety engineers, autonomy/SLAM/perception, GNC/control engineers, embedded/avionics, communications & C2 links, UTM/airspace integrations, data processing (imagery/LiDAR/thermal), GIS/photogrammetry, maintenance & field techs, and programme/product managers in the UK.

Why UAV (Drone) Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have seen rapid adoption across sectors in the UK — agriculture, logistics, inspection, mapping, delivery, search & rescue, environmental monitoring, media, defence, and more. As UAV use proliferates, the roles supporting them are shifting. Modern UAV careers are no longer just about aerodynamics, electronics or autopilot algorithms. They now require knowledge of law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design — because flying machines in public airspace must be safe, trusted, legal, intuitive and well communicated. In this article, we’ll explore why UAV careers in the UK are becoming more multidisciplinary, how those allied fields intersect with UAV work, and what job-seekers & employers should do to adapt.