Programme Manager – Space Sector
NCC, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
Bristol based (BS16 7FS) with hybrid working (minimum 2 days on site)
Salary: £58,341 to £73,057 per annum plus up to 12.5% employer pension & private medical insurance.
Advert closes: 21st October – We reserve the right to withdraw the advert early so if of special interest please submit your application as soon as viable.
As a Programme Manager you will play a pivotal role within our growing Space Sector team. You will lead programmes of work, manage a small team and support business development activities within your sector.
You’ll oversee a portfolio of projects that help businesses ranging from Space sector startups, through to the largest players in the UK. We’re an engineering and manufacturing led Catapult for the UK who aims to help other businesses be more efficient, productive, and resilient through the introduction of new technologies.
Most projects will orient around advanced materials, digitalisation and end to end engineering, and we’re excited to support the new UK Space Strategy. We’re developing new products and processes for use in satellites, launchers, rockets and various platforms used in space.
Business as usual activities would include:
- Develop and maintain project plans with clear objectives, milestones, stakeholder engagement approaches, and activity schedules.
- Work closely with the Director of Delivery – Space to prioritise and sequence opportunities in line with our strategic goals.
- Facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration across the internal teams.
- Support proposal and bid development, including preparation of key documents, internal reviews and governance processes.
- Track and report on portfolio progress, risks, and next steps, providing clarity and transparency to the team.
For full details, please refer to the job description available via the NCC Careers website. Heads up to say we refer to this as a TPM internally (Technical Programme Manager).
We’re seeking someone who brings:
- Established Programme Manager or role with equivalent responsibilities.
- You must have worked within the UK Space sector.
- Experience of advanced manufacturing, ideally in the Space sector.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills.
- One of the following in combination with the above points: Engineering background or composite materials knowledge.
Still not sure if you are right and want to check? Got a quick question about working practices or what the manager is like? Please feel free to reach out to Jon Barratt, internal recruiter, either via the recruitment contact page on our website or linked in.
What do we offer in return?
Annual salary reviews, company paid private medical insurance, up to 12.5% employer pension contribution, great people, honorary staff status at the University of Bristol. With a genuine focus on wellbeing, EDI and learning and development this is a chance to build your career in a thriving R&D facility with a bright future.
What we do
We help manufacturers take on bigger challenges - whether that’s building cleaner aircraft, scaling up offshore wind, or strengthening the UK’s supply chains. We’re here to deliver practical outcomes, not prototypes that sit on shelves.
Who we work with
We work across 16 sectors, from defence and energy to infrastructure and space. Some projects are with global tier 1s, others with small UK firms solving one specific problem - the works always varied, and always real.
What it’s like here
We’re not a startup. We’re not a corporate. We’re a national centre with the kit, time and people to do the job properly. The teams are focused, the thinking is sharp, and you’ll be trusted to get on with it.
Why this job matters
This role isn’t just internal support - it’s part of how we deliver nationally important work. If we do our job right, the UK’s manufacturers can do theirs better.