Technical Project Manager (Maritime Autonomy)

TL;DR

Technical Project Manager (Maritime Autonomy): Managing the lifecycle of maritime autonomy R&D projects for unmanned surface vessels with an accent on certification, regulatory compliance, and hardware-software integration. Focus on ensuring safety-critical standards are met, synchronizing software releases with physical construction, and mitigating risks for operational deployment.

Location: Swindon, UK

Company

Defence technology company revolutionizing autonomous systems deployment for NATO Allies and Partners.

What you will do

• Manage the lifecycle of maritime autonomy R&D projects, coordinating software developers, embedded hardware teams, and sea trials engineers.
• Take absolute ownership of the compliance and certification cycle for autonomous marine systems.
• Lead project planning to synchronize software releases with physical construction and integrations on prototype vessels.
• Establish detailed timelines, work breakdown structures, resource allocation profiles, and risk-mitigation strategies.
• Implement Jira and Confluence dashboards to provide leadership with visibility into project velocity and delivery status.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in technical project management, systems engineering, or project leadership.
• Experience in deep-tech, defense, aerospace, marine engineering, or high-growth hardware-software integration.
• Proven track record of managing projects under safety-critical certification standards (e.g., ISO 26262, IEC 61508, DO-178C) using the V&V delivery model.
• High proficiency in Jira, Confluence, and advanced planning tools.
• Structured communication style capable of distilling complex technical constraints into executive summaries.
• Execution-focused mindset with a strong sense of personal ownership.

Nice to have

• Prior experience in marine/aerospace engineering, military operations, or defense contracting.
• Knowledge of maritime regulations (COLREGs, SOLAS) and AIS tracking systems.
• Familiarity with autonomous vehicle stacks (UxV), autopilot ecosystems, or robotic control loop development.

Culture & Benefits

• Permanent employment contract.
• Opportunity to work on mission-critical C2 capabilities deployed in active operational environments.
• Collaboration within a small, senior software group.
• Contribution to bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies.