Data Manager - Defence & Aerospace

Location: Hybrid - Luton
Contract: 12 months
Rate: £45-£48 per hour (Inside IR35)
Clearance: SC Cleared

We are seeking an experienced Data Manager to join a high-profile defence and aerospace programme based in Luton. This is a 12-month contract offering the opportunity to work within a highly regulated, engineering-focused environment, supporting the effective management, control and governance of critical programme data throughout its lifecycle.

You will play a key role in ensuring engineering and programme data is accurately identified, controlled, protected, versioned and traceable, working closely with Configuration, Engineering, Quality and Programme teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver data management activities in line with approved Data Management Plans (DMPs).
• Ensure engineering and programme data is correctly identified, structured, versioned and approved.
• Maintain accurate data status, visibility and traceability across programme datasets.
• Ensure approved data is made available to internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Implement data management policies, standards and procedures in line with organisational governance.
• Ensure programme data management activities meet contractual, regulatory and security requirements.
• Support the creation, tailoring and ongoing maintenance of programme DMPs.
• Monitor compliance with DMP requirements and identify and address deviations.
• Maintain data integrity across document management and data management systems.
• Ensure correct application of naming conventions, metadata, version control and lifecycle states.
• Support integration between data management and configuration management systems.
• Apply appropriate security classification, protective marking and export control requirements.
• Ensure appropriate access controls and permissions are in place.
• Support internal, customer and regulatory audits, providing data management evidence and metrics.
• Support the resolution of audit findings and corrective actions.
• Support data management activities throughout the full product lifecycle, from design and development through to production, in-service support, modification and obsolescence.
• Support key programme and release milestones by ensuring data is complete, accurate and appropriately approved.
• Identify risks, issues and non-compliances and escalate where appropriate.
• Work closely with Configuration, Engineering, Quality and Programme teams.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and mentoring to Data Management Engineers.
• Identify opportunities to improve data management processes, systems and ways of working.
• Contribute to lessons learned and best-practice development across programmes.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in Data Management within Defence, Aerospace or another highly regulated industry.
• Strong understanding of data lifecycle management, document control and information governance.
• Experience working to Data Management Plans (DMPs) and organisational procedures.
• Experience handling sensitive, classified or export-controlled information.
• Excellent attention to detail with strong organisational and analytical skills.
• Understanding of data security principles, with a willingness to develop knowledge of cryptographic data security.
• Confident working within structured, regulated and compliance-driven environments.

Desirable Experience

• Experience integrating Data Management with Configuration and Change Management.
• Knowledge of airworthiness, safety-critical systems or certification environments.
• Familiarity with PLM and document management systems.
• Experience supporting audits, compliance reviews and corrective actions.
• Experience working across complex engineering or defence programmes.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

• Delivery-focused and dependable
• Methodical and highly detail-oriented
• Comfortable working within regulated and security-conscious environments
• A confident communicator and effective collaborator
• Proactive in identifying risks and opportunities for improvement
• Able to work effectively with engineering, configuration and programme stakeholders

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Data Manager / Data Management Engineer to work on a significant defence and aerospace programme, with exposure to complex engineering data, configuration environments and highly regulated processes.

Apply now if you have strong Data Management experience within Defence, Aerospace or a similarly regulated sector and are looking for your next contract opportunity.