Job Title: Lead Project Manager
Location: Bristol, Gloucestershire
Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
Lead the delivery of mission‑critical projects that shape the future of defence
At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Lead Project Manager at Ashton House, near Bristol, South Gloucestershire
The role
As a Lead Project Manager, you’ll play a central role in delivering some of the UK’s most strategically important defence programmes. This is an opportunity to guide complex production activity within our Mission Systems business a trusted provider of advanced intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communication and weapons‑handling solutions across all defence domains.
It’s work that shapes the future of defence, accelerates your career, develops your leadership capability and gives you a genuine sense of purpose.
Day-to-day, you’ll be contributing directly to national security by leading the production delivery of critical equipment for the Dreadnought programme.
1. Lead project management delivery activity for weapon launch systems, ensuring predictable, data‑driven programme performance.
2. Drive forward cultural change by embedding modern project controls and improved reporting and planning processes.
3. Represent Production within the management team and lead regular internal collaboration to resolve challenges and maintain delivery excellence.
4. Engage with customers through weekly reviews, fostering strong, transparent relationships and ensuring shared understanding of progress and risk.
5. Lead, motivate and develop your team, setting high standards in planning, performance, safety, communication and continuous improvement.
This role is full time, 37 hours per week is based on site at Ashton House.
Essential experience of the Lead Project Manager
6. Demonstrable experience in project delivery with strong project controls awareness.
7. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with confidence engaging stakeholders at all levels.
8. Commercially and financially astute with a proactive, challenging mindset.
9. Ability to influence, negotiate and drive collaborative working across complex programmes.
Qualifications for the Lead Project Manager
We value difference and don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and/or willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) / Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.
Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at
10. Generous holiday allowance
11. Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
12. Access to a Digital GP, annual health check and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
13. Employee share scheme
14. Employee shopping savings portal
15. Payment of Professional Fees
16. Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days’ special paid leave
17. Holiday Trading – buy or sell up to one working week of annual leave
18. ‘Be Kind Day’ – one paid day each year to volunteer with a charity of your choice
19. Flexible working options to help balance life and work, while meeting business needs
20. A dynamic, supportive and mission‑driven working environment
Babcock
We’re Babcock — a global FTSE organisation with over 26, people working together to make a difference.
Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts — not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance.
We call that lifetime engineering.
Join us and see how far we can go, together.
We are a disability confident committed employer.