Job Description

Job Title: Programme Manager - Prototype Aircraft

Location

:

Maidenhead, Berkshire

Salary Range: 70,000 - 80,000

Interviews: We will shortlist candidates from 5th Jan 2026, 1st stage interviews week commencing 12th Jan.

The Malloy Aeronautics Team:

Malloy Aeronautics Limited specializes in the development of heavy lift unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for both civilian and military uses. Located in Berkshire, our operations are notable for their focus on in-house design and manufacturing. This vertical integration means we control the production of most aircraft components on-site, enhancing our ability to innovate and maintain high standards across all stages of development.

About The Role:

The Programme Manager (Prototype Aircraft) leads the delivery of Malloy's early-lifecycle aircraft programmes--transforming concepts into flight-worthy, demonstrable prototype platforms. This includes the first-of-type builds for new UAS configurations, experimental variants of the T-Series, hybrid demonstrators, payload-specific prototypes, and special-mission or customer-sponsored prototype aircraft.

The postholder owns the end-to-end programme delivery: rapid design cycles, integration, build, ground test, flight test, and customer demonstration. They operate in a fast-paced environment where technical ambiguity is high, and decisions must be made quickly and responsibly.

This role bridges R&D outputs with future production-grade aircraft, ensuring prototype programmes de-risk capability, validate performance, and provide evidence-based roadmaps for industrialisation.

Ability to hold Security Clearance - 5 years residence in the UK

What you'll being doing (but not limited too):

Lead new prototype aircraft programmes from concept selection through system integration, flight test, and capability demonstration.

Manage baselines for early-lifecycle platforms, ensuring credible plans that account for technical complexity and ambiguity.

Coordinate cross-functional teams (design, systems, powertrain, production, flight ops) to achieve rapid iteration and build reliability.

Ensure prototypes meet safety, regulatory, and experimental airworthiness requirements appropriate to the demonstration phase.

Drive build readiness, ground test planning, integration sequencing, and technical risk reduction.

Lead test campaigns, work with Flight Ops on envelope expansion, and ensure disciplined test data capture and reporting.

Engage with customers and end-users during prototype maturation, trials, and demonstrations, building confidence in emerging capabilities.

Own schedule, cost, risk, and configuration control for assigned prototypes.

Prepare and present programme status, risks, and decisions to leadership and customers.

Ensure prototype learnings flow back into R&D, product development, and the core engineering organisation.

Support Commercial with bid inputs for new prototype opportunities.

Essential Skills and Experiences:

Professional PM Qualification (APM or PMI as examples) or years of practical experience gained through application of Project Management.

Strong experience in aerospace prototyping, flight-test environments, or early-stage vehicle development.

Familiarity with electric/hybrid propulsion, UAS systems, and multidisciplinary integration.

Lead business-case development for new prototype opportunities.

Ensure readiness for potential transition to production (handover packages, design maturity evidence, certification implications).

In some businesses, the incumbent would have a budget between 1M to 15M per annum, but typically, the budget responsibility would be at a higher level.

Experienced professional with extensive knowledge of Project Management (tools, techniques, practices).

Able to resolve project-related problems that do not have routine solutions, but the norm is to follow established procedures.

Exceptional coordination, pace, and decision-making under uncertainty.

Ability to bring structure and control to high-tempo prototype cycles.

Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, including at customer demos.

Desired Skills and Experiences:

University level education or professional qualifications gained through industry.

Expect to be an LCM Assessor (or willingness to become one).

Mentor junior PMs and coordinate workload with other Programme Managers.

Benefits you may be eligible for:

Working Environment: 9-day fortnight:
o free parking, free lunch on working Fridays', fruit twice a week, tea and coffee.

Company Pension Scheme

Discretionary Employee Incentive Bonus Scheme

Employee Share Incentive Plan (BAE Systems)

20 days Annual Leave, increasing with long service

Healthcare Cash Plan including Virtual GP, Dental Cover, Vision Cover, Discounted Gym Membership, and much more! Free coverage for children under 2 years old.

Employee Assistance Programme (24hr Helpline)

Mental Health First Aiders

Cycle to Work Scheme

Casual Dress

Sick Pay

Maternity & Paternity enhanced leave

We are a Bronze Level Armed Forces Covenant which signals our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.

Why Malloy Aeronautics?

Our company benefits from a streamlined process where engineering teams are involved in the entire lifecycle of our UAVs -- from initial design through to production. This setup not only speeds up the development process but also improves the efficiency and effectiveness of our product launches. We value professionals who have a background in both research and development (R&D) and design for manufacture, as their expertise is crucial to our rapid and precise product development cycle.

Please be aware that many roles working for Malloy Aeronautics will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation.

Malloy Aeronautics is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our industry, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We also want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Note:

If you have not heard from our recruitment department within 14 days, unfortunately you have not been successful.

Malloy Aeronautics and BAE Systems will collect and process information about you that may be subject to data protection laws. For more information about how we use and disclose your personal information, how we protect your information, our legal basis to use your information, your rights and who you can contact, please refer to the relevant sections of our Privacy notice.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 70,000.00-80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Casual dress Company pension Cycle to work scheme Discounted or free food Employee stock purchase plan Enhanced maternity leave Enhanced paternity leave Free flu jabs Free parking On-site parking Referral programme Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:

White Waltham SL6: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Reference ID: MA182