Senior Project Controls Engineer Defence

Overview

As a Senior Project Controls Engineer, you will lead cross‑discipline controls teams on medium-risk projects and contribute to higher‑risk programmes as part of a capable Integrated Project Team. You define scope, establish robust baselines, and manage change while ensuring cost, schedule, risk, and governance are tightly integrated. You will analyse performance data, support delivery decisions, and mentor colleagues to raise capability. The role supports the UK MoD and defence clients, offering impact across complex, regulated environments.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working environment
• focus on work-life balance
• inclusive culture and networks (DE&I)

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-discipline project controls teams on medium risk/medium complexity projects or contribute on higher‑risk programmes
• Define scope with exclusions, assumptions, interfaces and dependencies to enable WBS development
• Establish Performance Measurement Baseline and manage change control
• Collaborate with suppliers to integrate performance data per contractual requirements
• Ensure integration of scope, cost, risk and schedule
• Analyse performance data (Earned Value Management) to inform delivery decisions
• Coordinate with Finance to generate estimates to complete profiles
• Oversee risk management through identification, assessment and mitigation
• Support resource deployment via resource-loaded schedules
• Establish governance processes for auditable decision making
• Assure quality and integrity of project controls outputs
• Foster delivery recovery planning and stakeholder communication
• Promote learning and process improvements; mentor team members

Key requirements

• Proven track record delivering projects in defence or infrastructure in highly regulated sectors
• Experience across a substantial portion of the project lifecycle
• Experience in two or more project controls disciplines (Planning and Scheduling, Cost Estimation, Cost Control, Risk Management, or Performance Reporting) and related software/tools
• Understanding of how integrated project controls disciplines operate
• Proactive, curious, can-do attitude; comfortable in uncertain environments
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Ability to empower teams and build a collaborative culture
• Undergraduate degree in a relevant technical or management field or suitable equivalent
• Membership of a professional body (e.g. APM or PMI)
• Ability to make risk-based decisions with unclear parameters
• Adapt leadership style to the audience and uncertainty
• Competence with the software required for the role
• Willingness to work across sectors with various clients
• On-site collaboration with clients (2–3 days per week) and UK travel/overnight stays

• communication and influencing
• team empowerment
• collaboration
• Planning and Scheduling
• Cost Estimation
• Cost Control

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