Location: Reading (hybrid working) Duration: 5 month initial contract Rate: £87.15ph UMB (Inside IR35) Role details: Our client, a prominent player in the Defence & Security sector, is seeking a Product Delivery Manager specialising in Product Security for a contract position based in Reading, with hybrid working options. This role focuses on the delivery and continuous improvement of digital engineering capabilities supporting the Product Security pillar. It focuses on providing toolchains, digital thread integration, and lifecycle environments that enable model‑based product cybersecurity across the enterprise. The Product Delivery Manager owns reference architectures, solution baselines, and the Product Security capability roadmap-ensuring end‑to‑end traceability from security requirements through architecture, analysis, test, and assurance evidence. The role works closely with engineering and DE&D teams to standardize interfaces, align processes, and ensure solutions are adoptable, integrated, and compliant. What you'll be doing: Lead the roadmap and delivery of Product Security digital capabilities-including threat/risk modelling, security requirements, architecture modelling, SBOM/vulnerability management, and configuration/change control. Build and run secure engineering environments (secure builds, key management, artefact signing, verification/test workflows). Ensure full end‑to‑end traceability across the engineering lifecycle-from requirements to models, tests, and assurance evidence. Standardise ways of working and promote model‑centric engineering (moving away from document‑based approaches). Work closely with engineering teams, suppliers, and digital product owners to capture needs, drive adoption, and deliver integrated solutions. Maintain governance, data quality, and compliance across models, repositories, and security artefacts. Manage vendor relationships, evaluate new technologies, and support tool selection across Product Security capabilities. Lead change, training, and onboarding as teams transition to model‑based Product Security practices. What you'll achieve in your first 6 months: Establish the Product Security capability team and operating model. Build the initial backlog and communicate the capability roadmap. Set up reference architectures and initial Product Security environments. Implement modelling governance and contribution workflows. Deliver key Digital Thread integrations across requirements, security models, CI/CD security, ALM/vulnerability, test, and assurance. Roll out onboarding and training to support early adoption. Demonstrate value through model‑centric security reviews and traceability reporting. Essential skills: Degree in Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Computer Science, or similar. Experience delivering Product Security capabilities in regulated or safety‑critical industries (e.g., aerospace, defence, automotive). Strong understanding of model‑based security engineering and digital thread concepts. Experience with threat modelling, security requirements, architecture & controls, SBOM/vulnerability management, and verification/assurance. Proven ability to manage multi‑partner environments and complex delivery programmes. Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills. Experience managing budgets, resources, vendors, and service performance. Security clearance (or eligibility). Desirable skills: SAFe/Agile experience or certification. Experience with assurance/security cases and compliance evidence. Knowledge of Product Line Engineering and variant/option management. Experience working with suppliers or integrators for security/engineering toolchains. Ability to operate pragmatically and remain outcome‑focused in dynamic and evolving environments; comfortable working with ambiguity and driving clarity through structured approaches, metrics, and governance Skilled in constructive challenge while maintaining strong, collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholders. Interested? Apply today via the link provided!