Configuration manager

Location: Templecombe, Crawley or Cheadle - United Kingdom

Step into a role where your curiosity, care and diligence make a real difference.

As a Configuration Manager within Thales Underwater Systems you will help safeguard the integrity of our product data throughout its lifecycle, ensuring our teams have the clarity and confidence they need to deliver complex engineering projects. You will be part of a collaborative community working at the heart of system integration, building strong relationships across the business while developing your own skills in a supportive, people‑focused environment.

Core Benefits

We want you to feel valued, supported and able to thrive. Our benefits include:

• Performance‑related bonus up to 10%
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with the option to buy up to 40 hours.
• Private healthcare (for you and your partner)
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and mental wellbeing app
• Discounts with major retailers
• Gym membership savings
• More details available here: UK benefits | Thales Group

About Under Water Systems (UWS)

Our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensors and decision superiority, helping navies across the world keep our friends, families and all of us safe. We cover four sectors: Mine Counter Measures, Anti-Submarine warfare, Services and Future Capabilities.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead configuration planning and maintain CM plans, baselines and documentation across the project lifecycle.
• Manage configuration change control, including CCB coordination, traceability and approvals.
• Ensure product definition accuracy, including Bills of Materials and “as built / as installed / as tested” records.
• Conduct configuration audits and verifications (PCA/FCA) and assess supplier/contractor CM compliance.
• Maintain PLM data integrity, ensuring correct registration, release and lifecycle traceability of all configuration items.

Key Skills & Experience

• Strong understanding of configuration management processes, PLM tools and hardware/software CM practices
• Knowledge of systems engineering and system integration principles
• Comfortable navigating complexity, adapting to change and applying Lean/Agile approaches.
• Experience in defence, engineering or MOD‑related projects and familiarity with DEF Stan 00‑057.
• Confident communicator who builds positive relationships and supports effective supplier/partner collaboration.

UK Eyes Only 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 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.

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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

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.