Junior Consulting Project Manager (Defence and Security)

Introduction

Do emerging technologies and trends excite you? Are you interested in the difference between technologies that change the world and ones that seem full of promise but are never realised? Are you fascinated by the potential impact of emerging technologies for Defence and Security? Do you have a curious mindset to dive into analytical projects and lead the generation of real insight to help realise the benefits of deep tech?

If so, then this could be the perfect role for you! 

Who we are

You would be joining the Advisory team within Cambridge Consultants, a critical part of the company, providing clients with strategic advice at the interface between technology, product innovation and the commercial challenges of business.

As part of this core team, you would be delivering projects to clients primarily in the Defence and Security sectors as well as Industrial, Energy and Sustainability sectors. You'll work with our technologists to ensure solutions are not just technically feasible but are viable and critically a fit for our clients’ operations. Our clients vary, but all have an aspiration to use cutting-edge technology to transform their domain. What we do is help them succeed.

Success for us is delivering high-quality insights that are both technically robust and commercially relevant supporting our clients to understand the implications of emerging technologies and how to act on them. Our work drives structured strategic decision making related to deep tech through approaches such as horizon scanning, strategic foresight, technology road-mapping, competitor analysis, investment case and market insights. Critically we bridge the gap between technical innovation and real-world application, with a focus on supporting clients in understanding how emerging technologies can be operationalised within their business context. The technologies we work with are broad and include the latest advances in quantum sensing and compute, robotics and physical AI, novel materials and engineering biology among others.

The Role

As a Technology Strategy Analyst/ Project Manager within our Advisory team, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality client engagements while actively contributing to the analytical work that underpins them. This is a hybrid role that combines hands-on analysis with project leadership: you will manage advisory projects end-to-end, ensure teams stay on track and personally generate insights that drive client value.

The role sits within the ‘Research & Insights’ section of our Advisory group, which focuses on understanding how the near- and long-term future impacts the decisions we make today. This role has a focus on Defence and Security but will be responding to work in other sectors when business need arises.

What you will be doing

As a Technology Strategy Analyst/ Project Manager in our Advisory team, you will:

• Work on diverse, high-impact projects spanning understanding the impact of deep tech. This is across broad domains but may include answering questions such as what quantum applications could do 50 years in the future, how operations research will be disrupted by neuromorphic computing, what post-quantum cryptography means for critical national infrastructure and developing AI-enabled tools to identify weak signals in data. You will help clients accelerate technology development towards operational impact and/or commercialisation through evaluating user/buyer desirability and developing strategies for adoption/commercialisation.

• Management of project delivery to ensure successful delivery for our clients and for CC to time and budget with a focus on delivering value. Coordinating multi-disciplinary teams to ensure cohesive and efficient execution. Proactively identify risks, manage scope and keep stakeholders informed of progress

• Analyse markets, data, technologies and business models to help clients navigate complexity, seize opportunities and anticipate threats. Building recommendations underpinned by insight from our technologists and understanding of the dynamics of adopting emerging technologies in the real world. Balance project leadership responsibilities with hands-on analytical work, contributing meaningfully to core project outputs

• Support business development by working with Business Developers in building relationships with clients to understand their programme needs and supporting the development of bids and proposals

• Collaborate with experts in engineering, science, product design & realisation and business to craft strategies that unlock commercial and societal value from deep tech. Contribute to shaping project approaches and methodologies to keep us relevant to client needs and resolving system level discussions, requiring a strong technical background

• Contribute to thought leadership on how deep tech can solve global challenges, such as the impact of climate change on the battlefield of the future. Communicate insights in a compelling, accessible manner tailored to both technical and senior business audiences

What you will bring

You will bring a strong technical foundation alongside a pragmatic understanding of how emerging technologies transition from concept to real-world deployment. Crucially, you will have project management experience and be able to translate complex technical and market intelligence into clear, actionable recommendations for client organisations.

We are looking for applicants with the following traits and skills: 

• Strong technical background: Master’s or PhD in physical sciences, applied mathematics, data science, engineering, or other related disciplines

• Relevant domain/sector experience: 2-5 years’ experience in working in the Defence or Security domain in a government organisation, consultancy or private sector technology startup or multinational. Delivering projects with a significant amount of S&T (science and technology) or research and development content

• Project management experience: +2 years’ experience in project management, or project leadership. Demonstrating ability to lead and motivate a cross disciplinary team and influence stakeholders to ensure project success. Managing stakeholder expectations, developing understanding of programme needs and ideally experience of government tendering processes

• Strong understanding of technology commercialisation pathways: including the investment considerations of UK public sector, innovation pathways for defence, how technologies create user value in an operational context or challenges in scaling and deploying technologies into complex industrial environments globally.

• Structured analytical and creative thinking: Ability to turn complex technical concepts into actionable strategies and applying insights across multiple sectors

• Curiosity and adaptability: A passion for learning, excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills

• Communication skills: Confidence in engaging with technical and non-technical stakeholders, running meetings with clients and crafting compelling narratives.

Some projects at Cambridge Consultants are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to obtain a Security Check level security clearance ( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant ). You must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law and be prepared to successfully undertake an appropriate level of UK National Security Vetting according to UK Government National Security Vetting criteria.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV and cover letter highlighting relevant experience for this role.

We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. If you are excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.