Interim Project Manager – Submarine Combat Systems
Location: Bremen, Germany
Working Pattern: Primarily Onsite with Regular International Travel
Contract Length: Initial 6-Month Contract
Start Date: September or October 2026
Sector: Defence & Naval Technology
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Project Manager to take ownership of complex engineering programmes within the highly specialised world of submarine combat systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Take full ownership of allocated projects, ensuring successful delivery against agreed objectives.
- Develop and maintain project plans covering scope, schedule, resources, risks, and financial performance.
- Lead cross-functional project teams within a matrix organisation.
- Manage project governance activities, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
- Monitor project progress and proactively address risks, issues, and dependencies.
- Drive effective communication across engineering, commercial, and programme teams.
- Manage contractual commitments and obligations throughout the project lifecycle.
- Coordinate activities with suppliers and external partners to ensure delivery milestones are achieved.
- Support commercial discussions, change management activities, and project forecasting.
- Facilitate decision-making and conflict resolution across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Ensure projects are delivered in line with quality, performance, and business objectives.
Skills & Experience Required
- Degree-qualified in Engineering, Project Management, Business, or a related discipline.
- Proven experience managing complex engineering, technical, or systems integration projects.
- Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary and internationally distributed teams.
- Strong planning, organisation, and project control capabilities.
- Experience managing project budgets, schedules, risks, and stakeholder expectations.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
- Confident operating within matrix organisations and complex delivery environments.
- Fluent English, both written and spoken.
- Strong problem-solving skills with a practical and proactive approach.
Highly Desirable Experience
Experience in any of the following areas would be particularly advantageous:
- Defence, naval, maritime, aerospace, or other highly regulated industries
- Complex systems engineering programmes
- Combat systems, mission systems, or platform integration projects
- International project delivery and supplier management
- Contract and commercial management
- Project management certifications such as IPMA, PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent
- German language skills
- Experience working with multinational stakeholders and geographically dispersed teams
- Knowledge or genuine interest in submarine technologies and underwater system