Spirals Engineering Manager

Rate: Up to £550/day IR35 status: Inside IR35 Location: Hybrid (Office Address - Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH) Closing date: 15th July 2026 at 11:00 Contract dates: ASAP to 31/03/2027 Overview Our customer, a large defence organisation, is seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to lead engineering activities supporting the assessment of Under Armour Track Tensioning (UATT) and Composite Rubber Track (CRT) technologies within the AJAX Programme. The role provides technical leadership across the Spirals work packages, supporting trials, engineering governance and capability decision making. Team Context The AJAX Programme sits within the National Armaments Director Group (NAD). Delivered on behalf of DG Material under the purview of Director Land Environment as part of the Land Combat Vehicles Portfolio. Key Responsibilities • Lead engineering activity required to deliver the assessment of Under Armour Track Tensioning and Composite Rubber Track technology. • Ensure technical requirements are consistent with user feedback and needs, considering cost (procurement and through-life), time and retrofit. • Provide technical input to the development and delivery of the Spirals work-packages within the Joint Schedule. • Identify and analyse technical hazards /project impacts ensuring that these are adequately documented and managed. • Liaise with PM to report on schedule and risk assessments. • Ensure Trials Management activities are conducted to support the successful assessment of the capabilities. • Lead the review of the Detailed Trials Specification to ensure technical information required to support decision making is captured. • Review the Trials Report / Tech Note following each trial. • Support the assessment and planning of the retrofit to the in service fleet and ensure the cost and time impact is factored into the evaluation of whether to proceed with this capability. • Deliver a technical recommendation in relation to the progression of UATT and CRT. • Support Approvals activity required to enable the progression of UATT and CRT in line with programme direction following agreed Decision Points UATT System Requirements Review UATT PDR UATT CDR UATT Trials Complete UATT Decision Point 2 – Confirm whether to proceed with UATT CRT Trials Complete CRT Decision Point 1 – Confirm whether further exploration of CRT should continue Essential Skills Broad technical knowledge of armoured vehicles. Experience applying GEAR/System Engineering processes and engineering planning. Wide-ranging depth and breadth of experience providing technical advice and delivering successful engineering outcomes. Demonstrable experience providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes. Ability to work collaboratively within a challenging, high-profile and complex programme. Ability to react and respond appropriately to emerging issues. Desirable Skills Experience managing trials. Experience of armoured vehicles. Additional Information Hybrid working based at Abbey Wood, Bristol. UK nationals only. SC Clearance required.