Senior Trials and Engineering Manager - Defence Testing

Senior Trials & Engineering Manager

Defence Test & Evaluation | Munitions, Explosives & Energetic Materials

A leading UK defence test and evaluation organisation is seeking a Senior Trials & Engineering Manager to provide technical leadership across a diverse portfolio of munitions, explosives and ballistics trials.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced engineer or scientist to join a specialist environment supporting the delivery of complex test programmes for defence and commercial customers. The role will suit someone with extensive experience of Insensitive Munitions (IM), UN Series Testing, ballistics, blast, weapon effects, armour or related areas.

The Role

Reporting into the senior leadership team, you will act as the technical authority for the planning, assurance and delivery of complex trials, ensuring activities are conducted safely, effectively and in accordance with customer requirements and applicable standards.

You will provide technical guidance to customers and internal stakeholders, lead multidisciplinary engineering teams and play a key role in developing future testing capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, technical assurance and delivery of complex test programmes.

• Provide subject matter expertise across munitions, explosives and energetic materials testing.

• Review and approve trial documentation, risk assessments and safety plans.

• Ensure compliance with relevant UK, NATO and international test standards.

• Provide technical oversight during trial execution and analysis.

• Review, interpret and present trial results and technical reports.

• Act as the senior technical authority within your area of expertise.

• Mentor and develop engineers and scientists across the wider team.

• Support customer engagement and technical discussions on test strategy and programme delivery.

About You

We're interested in speaking with candidates who possess some combination of the following:

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry or a related discipline.

• Significant experience within defence, munitions, explosives, weapons, ordnance or energetic materials environments.

• Strong knowledge of Insensitive Munitions (IM) and/or UN Series Testing.

• Experience planning, conducting and reporting complex test and evaluation activities.

• Background in ballistics, blast, armour, weapon effects or survivability testing would be highly advantageous.

• Experience leading technical teams and providing engineering oversight.

• Chartered status (or working towards) would be beneficial.

What's On Offer

• Senior technical leadership position within a highly specialised sector.

• Significant autonomy and influence over technical programmes.

• Ongoing professional development and support towards professional accreditation.

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

• Opportunity to work on unique defence test and evaluation projects supporting UK and international customers.

Please note: Due to the nature of the work, successful applicants must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance