Engineering Delivery Manager - IAS

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Engineering Delivery Manager
Location: based in Belfast, minimum 3 days/ week in office (hybrid), with <10% domestic travel
Other: permanent, full-time

Take ownership of engineering delivery, people leadership and technical excellence, guiding teams to deliver mission-critical solutions that make a real-world impact.

What the role has to offer

• Lead people, programmes and technology across complex, high-impact defence projects
• Deliver solutions that matter, developing advanced capabilities that protect and defend
• Grow your influence and career, combining technical leadership with strategic responsibility for teams, resources and delivery outcomes

Our Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Engineering Delivery Manager to lead multidisciplinary teams in the delivery of complex engineering solutions. You will be accountable for engineering delivery across the full system lifecycle, providing technical leadership and ensuring successful outcomes against programme, cost, quality and compliance objectives.

Working closely with customers, partners and internal stakeholders, you will help shape engineering strategy and deliver innovative solutions that meet both customer and business needs. The role may also include line management responsibility for Work Package Managers, alongside ownership of engineering resource planning and budget management.

The successful candidate will be a proven engineering leader with strong systems engineering expertise and experience delivering complex programmes. You will be skilled at balancing technical performance, schedule and cost, while building strong stakeholder relationships and leading high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment.

Building a Future, we can all trust.

Integrated Airspace Protection Systems (IAS) - our main purpose is to protect and defend. We provide rapid integrated solutions for detection, coordination, fire control, engagement and support. We cover three sectors: Surface Attack & Air Defence (UK), Air Defence (International) and Air Operations & Services as well as Space.

What we offer you

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees’ wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams, including Work Package Managers, providing technical leadership and direction to ensure successful delivery against cost, schedule, quality and performance objectives
• Own engineering resource, headcount and budget planning, ensuring capability, capacity and financial performance are aligned with programme and business requirements
• Lead the planning, coordination and execution of engineering activities across the full system lifecycle, from requirements definition and design through to integration, validation, qualification and acceptance
• Ensure effective systems engineering and IVVQ delivery, overseeing the development, management and verification of requirements while maintaining a low-risk, compliant approach
• Establish and maintain engineering governance, including design assurance, technical certification, WBS/OBS structures and delivery plans, ensuring achievement of programme milestones and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with Programme Managers, customers, suppliers and industry partners to manage technical risk, resolve complex challenges, optimise engineering performance and deliver successful programme outcomes

About You

At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.

Key Requirements

• Degree qualified (BEng/BSc) in an Engineering, Scientific or Numerate discipline, or equivalent experience. A postgraduate qualification would be advantageous
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organisations and delivering complex programmes
• Demonstrated people leadership, including management of engineering leaders, work package managers/ similar and technical teams
• Acquired experience of managing engineering budgets, headcount and resource planning to achieve delivery objectives
• Strong systems engineering knowledge, including requirements capture, analysis, architecture development, design and the delivery of innovative, cost-effective solutions across the full engineering lifecycle through to IVVQ
• Proven ability to plan, monitor and control engineering activities while building effective stakeholder relationships, ensuring successful delivery against technical, schedule, cost and quality objectives

Ready to lead high-performing engineering teams and deliver technologies that protect and defend? Apply today and help us build a future we can all trust.

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions.  This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. 

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.  In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
 

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!