About the role
We are looking for a Technical Programme Manager (m/f/d) who thrives at the intersection of engineering rigour, operational complexity, and process governance. You will be responsible in designing and building the programme infrastructure, across engineering teams and operational stakeholders alike.
You will connect geographically distributed teams in the UK, Germany, and Ukraine, ensuring field reality reaches the central product organisation in Germany in a form that enables prioritisation, and that commitments back to the field are realistic, visible, and delivered. You bring clarity where there is ambiguity, structure where there is noise, and accountability where there are gaps.
To Join Our Team, You Should Be Excited To
* Design and implement programme processes from scratch, for engineering teams, product stakeholders, and mission operations
* Establish and enforce a Jira-based operating model across engineering and programme activities, including ticket standards, workflow structures, and the definition of "done" at every level
* Own and police deliverable gates, define readiness criteria for milestones, releases, and exercise deployments, and hold the line; nothing passes without verified evidence of completion
* Challenge and return incomplete engineering artefacts, tickets, test notes, handover documentation that do not meet the required standard
* Build a repeatable process for planning, tracking, and closing out exercises and demonstrations, from pre-event readiness gates through on-site execution to post-event feedback capture
* Structure and manage feedback loops from multi-customer field exercises into prioritised, traceable product inputs for the central product team in Germany
* Distinguish clearly between integration-level changes that can be handled locally and product-level changes requiring central prioritisation, and govern that boundary rigorously
* Own integrated master schedules, dependencies, and critical path across hardware, software, and integration workstreams; resolve blockers and course-correct fast
* Translate operational needs, field feedback, and engineering detail into structured, testable requirements with unambiguous acceptance criteria and full traceability
* Manage a living risk register and run programme ceremonies, risk reviews, change control, and executive readouts with clear action-oriented communication
Your Profile
* Proven experience leading complex, technical programmes in defence, robotics, autonomy, automotive, or an adjacent regulated domain
* Ability to build programme or engineering processes from scratch, not just operating within existing frameworks
* Track record of fielding systems in mission-critical environments with mastery of schedule, scope, and execution under pressure
* Known for turning ambiguous, noisy, real-world inputs into clear, actionable, decision-ready outputs
* Comfortable being the person who says "this isn't ready" and can defend that position with evidence, you hold the line without losing the room
* Experienced in getting engineers to produce better, more detailed work through standards that make sense and consequences that are real
* Experience with operational or field-facing stakeholders or equivalent on live event planning and readiness management
* Strong working knowledge of Jira or equivalent as a programme and engineering management tool, you can design workflows, not just use them
* Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field desirable, a technical background is desirable but the curiosity and the ability to know which questions to ask and when whilst engaging with senior engineers is essential
* Willingness to travel within EU, especially Germany
* Excellent English is a must; German is a plus
* Eligibility to work in the UK is required
Benefits and Perks
* Competitive salary and benefits package
* A shaping role in an emerging dual-use company
* Opportunity to work with a highly innovative, international, and dynamic team
* Room for professional growth and development
* Participation in the company's success, with access to regular events, knowledge exchange and meetups
About us
ARX is a dual-use technology company that specializes in developing autonomous unmanned systems and sensors for the European defence sector. Our dual-use unmanned ground systems and sensors assist NATO Armies and civilian first responders in tackling their most challenging problems by providing them with training and information to make better decisions and take effective actions in life-or-death situations.
As our team continues to expand rapidly, we are seeking motivated candidates who are excited to work in a highly energetic, creative, and innovative team dedicated to developing autonomous systems for challenging environments. We operate in a dynamic sector where collaboration, sharing innovative ideas, and developing novel problem-solving strategies are ingrained in our work culture.
If you are passionate about overcoming challenges that have a real impact on the security of our democracies, apply here to join ARX and help shape the future of dual-use technology!
ARX is an equal-opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
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