Project Manager (Unmanned Surface Vehicles)

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SYOS is a fast-growing global robotics and aerospace company, driving the development of cutting-edge uncrewed vehicles (drones) across air, land, and sea for dual-use applications. We are committed to pushing technological boundaries and delivering exceptional products that consistently exceed customer expectations.

About the role:

We are seeking a hands-on Project Manager to join our UK team. You will lead delivery of USV programmes across R&D, prototyping and production-driving execution from concept through build/integration, test/commissioning, acceptance and handover-ensuring delivery to schedule, budget, quality, risk and compliance targets.

Key Responsibilities:

Delivery Leadership & Planning

• Lead UK delivery across R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, Quality and Test/Commissioning, plus external suppliers and service providers.
• Capture, baseline and manage delivery requirements; translate them into an integrated plan with milestones, readiness gates, and acceptance criteria.
• Own the integrated schedule and critical path (baseline, progress tracking, decision points and recovery actions).
• Own budget tracking and delivery reporting across cost, schedule, scope, quality and risk.
• Manage RAID (risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies), drive mitigations to closure and escalate early with options.
• Drive change control with impact assessment, approvals and re-baselining as required.
• Own Jira delivery management (roadmaps, epics, cross-team dependencies and dashboards) and maintain delivery process discipline.

Stakeholder, Supplier & Delivery Cadence

• Plan and oversee commissioning and acceptance, including readiness reviews, test schedules, defect triage and handover packs.
• Oversee prototype/system testing: ensure procedures are followed, results are captured accurately, and defects are prioritised to closure.

Documentation, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and run the project governance cadence (planning, delivery, supplier reviews, gates) to drive decisions, manage risks and remove blockers.

Test, Acceptance & Handover

• Maintain delivery documentation and handover packs (plans, requirements/specifications, test reports, acceptance evidence) and apply appropriate controls for sensitive/proprietary information.
• Identify opportunities to improve delivery processes and working practices; contribute to team standards and best practices.
• Act as the single point of accountability for UK delivery performance and stakeholder communication.

Qualifications & Experience

• Strong experience delivering end-to-end products from planning through build/integration to commissioning, acceptance and operational handover.
• Proven capability owning schedule and budget, running RAID, and driving change control in a high-tempo environment.
• Understanding of R&D and product development lifecycles, including requirements/specification management, test evidence, delivery documentation, and transition to production/production readiness.
• Supplier/procurement coordination experience (lead times, expediting, quality and logistics); comfortable working with yards/sites where required.
• Excellent stakeholder management, including customer-facing communication and confident escalation to protect delivery outcomes.
• Domain experience in maritime, defence, autonomy/robotics or other high-reliability regulated industries is strongly preferred.
• Strong commercial awareness (cost tracking, variations/change, supplier performance management).

Required:

• Recognised PM qualification (APM or equivalent such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP, AgilePM, or PMI)
• 5+ years' experience delivering complex, multi-disciplinary products or programmes (hardware/robotics/aerospace/defence experience advantageous).
• Desirable certifications: APM/PRINCE2 (or equivalent); AgilePM or Scrum (PSM/CSM); MoR.

How to Apply

If you are a passionate Project Manager who is excited about the future of drone or aerospace technology and have a proven track record of success in your field, please apply now and we will be in touch if you are successful.

Security Requirement:
To be eligible for this role, you must be able to meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). This includes confirming your identity, legal right to work in the UK, recent employment history, and criminal record (unspent convictions only).

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