Element Digital Engineering is a leading provider of specialist engineering design, simulation, build, and consultancy support to clients across Aerospace, Automotive, Energy, Built Environment, and Chemical Process industries — both in the UK and internationally. We enable our clients to accelerate innovation and improve performance through high-quality engineering delivery, ranging from early concept development to advanced R&D testing.

We are seeking a high-calibre Programme Manager to take ownership of a strategically important and technically program of work. This role has been created in response to significant recent growth, which includes the award of a major new programme to support the design and development of a next-generation aircraft platform. This includes work on novel fluid and hydraulic systems, starting from first principles and progressing through system-level design, integration, and test.

While the initial focus of this role will be to lead the delivery of this flagship programme, the successful applicant will also take responsibility for overseeing other programmes spanning propulsion R&D, fluid mechanical systems, advanced testing, and bespoke engineered systems incorporating mechanical, electrical, and control technologies.

As a Programme Manager at Element, you will be a key contributor to both technical delivery and business success — leading from the front, shaping project delivery strategies, and ensuring the efficient execution of high-impact engineering programmes within a fast-paced, client-focused consultancy environment.

• Lead the delivery of a major engineering programme, from definition through to completion — ensuring alignment with technical goals, commercial targets, and customer expectations.
• Manage a complex program with multiple work packages, balancing resources, risk, budget, and scope across multiple clients and industries.
• Develop and maintain integrated programme schedules, budgets, and risk registers, ensuring that programmes are delivered on time and within agreed constraints.
• Collaborate closely with engineering leads, clients, and suppliers to ensure coordinated delivery across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Shape and evolve project governance processes, ensuring project controls, milestone reviews, and reporting meet business and client needs.
• Identify, assess, and manage delivery risks and issues, implementing mitigation plans and escalating where appropriate.
• Contribute to resource planning, recruitment, and capability development to meet growing programme needs.Report to senior leadership on programme performance, resourcing, strategic issues, and opportunities.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Formal qualification in Project or Programme Management (e.g. APM PMQ, MSP, PMP).
• Proven experience in programme management in engineering environments, preferably in Aerospace, Defence, Energy, or R&D-focused consultancy.St
• Strong understanding of systems engineering project delivery, ideally with exposure to fluid, thermal, electrical or control-based engineering domains.
• Demonstrable experience delivering multi-disciplinary projects from concept through to test and qualification including design, build, integration, and client sign-off.
• Strong commercial and client management skills — capable of managing key accounts, developing relationships, shaping proposals, and managing expectations.
• Effective leadership and communication skills — able to motivate teams, mentor staff, and build strong working relationships across technical and business functions.
• Excellent programme management knowledge: planning, scheduling, risk management, governance, budgeting, and reporting.
• Familiarity with relevant industry standards and regulatory frameworks, particularly within aerospace (e.g. EASA, FAA, ARP 4754, DO-178, etc.) would be advantageous.Proficient in Microsoft Project, Excel, and other common project collaboration tools.
  
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Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) 

“If you need an accommodation filling out an application, or applying to a job,  please email Recruitment@element.com”