Senior Technical Programme Manager - Lab Test

Senior Technical Programme Manager - Lab Test Our Mission At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky. We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2028 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers. We’re looking for a Senior Technical Programme Manager – Test to lead the delivery of our test capability and execution programmes in support of aircraft certification. This is a high-impact role at the centre of engineering, governance, and delivery - where programme discipline meets technical complexity. If you thrive in regulated environments, understand what it takes to certify aerospace hardware, and know how to bring clarity to cross-functional delivery, this is where you step in. WHAT YOU'LL DO You will own the integration and coordination of test capability delivery to support Valo certification and entry into service. That means: - Partnering with aircraft system teams to define capability requirements and ensure readiness against programme milestones - Ensuring test hardware availability in close collaboration with procurement and supply chain - Leading the delivery of new test facilities - labs, rigs, and equipment - fully aligned to the Integrated Master Schedule - Consolidating Verification & Validation plans into a robust Master Test Schedule, managing change, variance and emerging priorities - Supporting the Head of Test with cost centre management, forecasting and spend tracking - Driving visibility and accountability using Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence), identifying risks, blockers and critical path threats early - Working with engineering leaders to forecast resource needs and build evidence-based business cases to mitigate delivery risk WHAT YOU'LL BRING - Proven experience delivering complex technical programmes in aerospace, automotive or another safety-critical, high-tech environment - Strong scheduling and planning expertise using Microsoft Project and Atlassian toolsets - Deep understanding of programme governance - risk, change control, reporting, and stakeholder management - Experience managing cost centres, tracking spend, and forecasting in an engineering environment - Clear, confident communicator who can influence senior stakeholders and technical leads alike - Proactive mindset - you surface issues early and drive resolution decisively - Ability to build structured, measurable plans that balance rigour with adaptability - Understanding of data, reporting and business intelligence principles - Degree-qualified in Engineering, Project Management or a related technical discipline #LI-OS1 What can you expect from us? We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career. Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal. Our benefits Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials. - 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday - 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell) - 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil p ... (truncated, view full listing at source)