Senior Programme Systems Engineering Manager / Chief Engineer

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe. 

Grade: PCG 15

Closing Date: 27/01/2026

Job Purpose/Overview 

The Senior Programme Systems Engineering Manager (PSEM) is a senior engineering management role accountable for ensuring several projects, or a programme, produces the optimal engineered solution to meet the needs of Air Traffic Control users, to the required quality on time and on budget.

The PSEM will provide the single point of Engineering accountability for a programme, ensuring the right solution is delivered, that it is built in the right way and that it is delivered on time to the right quality and supports the safe provision of Air Traffic Control. The PSEM will define, lead, direct and approve all Engineering activities on the Programme.

Act as Solution Delivery process expert for the programme to ensure changes are delivered safely in to NATS operations either via internal project teams, or external teams through collaboration with supply chain partners.

This role will provide effective communications at all levels to customers, team members and up to Director level, to ensure high levels of engagement, a clear direction and common understanding, and a highly motivated team.

Other Duties Include

· Provide leadership and direction to a team of Project Engineering Managers, being accountable for the technical planning and delivery, including leading technical reviews and governance checkpoints, ensuring issues and risks are managed and resolved in order to deliver to objectives.

· Responsible for all engineering decisions on a Project or Programme. (Will refer to Senior Engineering Management and/or Programme Manager with proposals where policy is not laid down or need for changes have been identified)

· Provide Engineering Management oversight for the implementation, test, assurance and deployment across multiple systems, defining the scope, activities, resources and project schedules for assigned tasks.

· Manage and direct technical resources to achieve business and customer objectives. Define and agree work packages as required to ensure changes are fully resource and delivered on time.

· Accountable to the Chief Engineer for the technical delivery of projects across the Programme.

· Plan post project delivery build programmes ensuring future resource and skills are understood and align to business cases.

· Work with and manage various suppliers delivering technology and services to the projects.

· Ensure the safe transition of services in to operational use, working with Service Delivery Managers to agree transition steps and skills required in their teams.

· Ensure team members act in accordance with NATS behaviours and deal with issues where behaviours fall below expectations.

· Attend Programme and Project reviews presenting to senior stakeholders.

· Act as a point of escalation to projects and unblock issues preventing delivery.

Essential Skills and Experience

· Honours degree in a numerate subject (which could be scientific, technical or business oriented) or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience, other qualifications and training/development.

· Demonstrable experience of successfully leading major Systems Engineering projects, ideally in an environment that requires safety critical or highly resilient systems.

· Strong and credible leadership, able to pull people together across different services and systems and motivate them to deliver a cost effective solution on time and on budget.

· Extensive track record of leading and delivering a significant portfolio of change within all constraints, able to take ‘tough’ decisions and see the required action through.

· Strong analytical and conceptual reasoning skills and highly effective communication skills. Ability to articulate complex issues and concepts to a wide range of stakeholders.

· Demonstrable capability to resolve conflict; build, maintain and utilise relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to achieve optimum business goals.

· Collaborative working style with a clear and relentless focus on delivering outcomes.

· A self-motivated, proactive individual with strong organisational skills with a logical and structured approach to work.

· Excellent interpersonal skills, with confidence & credibility to persuade and influence staff at all levels. Confident to challenge and be challenged.

· Good breadth of technical knowledge at the ‘system of system’ level, Systems Engineering processes and experience gained from working in a technology delivery environment, preferably within a real time, safety related industry.

· The ability to motivate, coach, and develop team members to maximise their contribution to the projects.

· The ability to negotiate with customers, suppliers and regulators to ensure NATS interests are both maintained and progressed.

· A good understanding of Project management principles and an awareness of financial management within a large organisation.

Additional Vacancy Information

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS?