About Aquila ATMS

At Aquila Air Traffic Management Services (ATMS), we are dedicated to creating a workplace where innovation, collaboration, and excellence thrives. As a joint venture between NATS and Thales, we combine the expertise of leading air traffic control services and global systems integration to deliver cutting-edge solutions in air traffic management.

Join us in shaping the future of air traffic management, and together, we will elevate aviation safety and efficiency worldwide!

The Role

We are looking for a Systems Engineering Manager to join our team on a 12-month fixed term contract. This role provides an opportunity to contribute to the organisation’s goals and support the work of the wider team. In this position, you will help deliver key activities that support effective operations, continuous improvement, and positive outcomes for colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• Lead and coordinate systems engineering activities across projects, ensuring delivery of compliant solutions aligned to the engineering lifecycle.

• Manage technical risk, compliance and traceability, ensuring adherence to regulatory, safety and governance requirements.

• Oversee engineering delivery against time, cost and quality expectations, including work package definition, planning inputs and subcontractor performance.

• Act as the key technical interface across projects, collaborating with stakeholders, suppliers and multidisciplinary teams to integrate solutions effectively.

• Drive continuous improvement of systems engineering practices, promoting learning, standardisation and innovation across delivery.

This is a hands on role where you’ll contribute to meaningful work and play a part in helping the organisation achieve its objectives.

About You

You’re a Systems Engineering professional who contributes positively to your team and the wider organisation. You work collaboratively, adapt to different situations, and bring sound judgement to your work. You communicate clearly, build effective working relationships, and approach challenges with a practical, solutions‑focused mindset.

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:

• Relevant experience as a Systems Engineer Manager or in a similar systems engineering or technical role.

• Knowledge of systems engineering principles, lifecycle management and application with regulated or safety-related environments.

• Experience in delivering engineering activities within project or programme environments, including coordination of multidisciplinary teams and technical interfaces.

• The ability to lead and coordinate complex technical work, manage risk, communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders and ensure delivery to time, cost and quality expectations.

You also:

• Promote Aquila’s Just Culture, reporting incidents, safety non compliance, or potential issues in an appropriate and timely manner.

• Consistently demonstrate behaviours aligned with Aquila’s core values and leadership behaviours in all actions and decisions.

What We're Looking For

Essential Criteria

1. Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle management, including application across complex projects.

2. Proven experience delivering systems engineering activities within a project or programme environment.

3. Knowledge of systems engineering best practice and frameworks within high‑integrity or real‑time systems environments.

4. Experience working within a regulated or safety‑critical environment, ensuring compliance with standards and governance.

5. Demonstrated ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams and manage technical interfaces effectively.

6. Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for both technical and non‑technical audiences.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience within Air Traffic Management or a similar complex operational environment.

2. Experience delivering large‑scale, multidisciplinary engineering projects involving suppliers or subcontractors.

3. Experience in delivering technical solutions into the ministry of defence.

If you don’t meet every requirement but feel you have relevant experience, we’d still like to hear from you. We support flexible working arrangements and encourage applications from candidates seeking hybrid roles.

Benefits

Core Benefits

• 201 hours (approx. 27 days) annual leave + 1 Company Day to be used at Christmas (Excluding Bank Holidays) - Prorated for part time contracts

• Time off to volunteer (up to 3 days per annum)

• Company Pension Plan (Aquila contribution = employee contribution + 1%, up to 7%)

• Life Assurance (2x basic salary or up to 8x if in the pension scheme)

• Income Protection

• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 support and counselling

• Company paid Private Medical Insurance (Couple cover)

• Variable Compensation Plan (discretionary bonus)

Flexible Benefits

Through Aquila’s flexible benefits platform, you can tailor your package, including:

• Healthcare Cash Plan options

• Additional PMI cover

• Buy or sell annual leave

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Discounts at high street retailers

Family, Wellbeing & Lifestyle

• Enhanced Maternity pay

• Enhanced Paternity leave & pay

• Enhanced Occupational Sick pay

• Mental Health First Aiders

• Recognition through Altair Award

• Employee referral bonus

Security Clearance Statement

Due to the nature of the work that we do, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance- United Kingdom Security Vetting – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Equal Opportunities, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Aquila is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.