Senior Project Manager

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Hybrid working arrangement: 3 days per week on site

We are looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager. In this role you will be responsible for leading the delivery of complex, large‑scale engineered projects involving physical products and systems. You will oversee multiple projects, drive on‑time and high‑quality delivery, and work across engineering, industry, procurement and operations to achieve demanding customer, cost and schedule outcomes. This role requires strong leadership, stakeholder engagement and the ability to resolve real‑world delivery challenges in fast‑moving environments.

Core Benefits:

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes;

• Performance-related bonus

• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00

• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)

• 24 hours volunteering paid for

• Private healthcare for couples

• Pension scheme

• Life cover

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers

• Gym membership discounts

• You can read about some of our other benefits here: UK benefits | Thales Group

Optronics & Missile Electronics (OME)

We help forces to find the right information at the right time to make the right decision. For over 130 years we’ve proudly led the development of Optronics for military, scientific and commercial use. We cover three sectors: Air, Land and Sea.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead and motivate multi‑disciplinary teams to deliver complex engineered products and systems on time, to cost and quality.

• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and internal delivery functions, ensuring clear communication and trust throughout delivery.

• Establish and maintain robust delivery strategies, schedules and baselines aligned to manufacturing, integration and operational milestones.

• Drive proactive risk and opportunity management, ensuring issues are identified early and addressed effectively.

• Provide clear programme updates at governance reviews, ensuring transparency of progress, challenges and required support.

Ideal Experience & Skills:

• Proven experience delivering large‑scale engineered projects (e.g. systems integration, design and manufacture, infrastructure, in-service support).

• Strong leadership capability with experience managing cross‑functional teams across engineering, industry, procurement and operations.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including influencing customers and suppliers involved in tangible delivery.

• Solid understanding of scheduling, baselines, project controls, risk management and financial/contractual oversight.

• Strong communication, organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to work effectively in complex multi‑site environments.

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). 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.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: .

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!