Project Manager (Technical)

Full-time / London / Hybrid - 3 days in office

IONATE is a deep tech scale-up building the hardware and software backbone for smart grids. Our mission is to transform power systems - from grids and microgrids to renewables and data centres - unlocking the massive potential in this under-innovated sector that touches every aspect of our modern lives.

We're looking for someone who is comfortable working in a fast-paced start-up environment where priorities can evolve rapidly, and individuals are expected to take ownership beyond their immediate responsibilities. Working closely with project engineers, engineering teams, suppliers and customers, you will help lead project activities across the full lifecycle, from concept and prototyping through to installation, commissioning and commercial operation.

Drawing on your experience in hardware development, design, manufacturing and deployment, you will play a key role in coordinating customer projects and supporting product development initiatives. This position may involve occasional travel within the UK and internationally to support customer meetings, site testing, project deployments and site commissioning activities.

What You Will Do:

Project Delivery

• Lead / Managing the planning, coordination and delivery of customer projects, product development activities, and pilot deployments.
• Maintain project schedules, action trackers, risk registers and project documentation to ensure activities remain on track.
• Coordinate activities across engineering, operations, manufacturing, suppliers and external stakeholders.
• Monitor project progress and provide regular updates on schedule, risks, dependencies and key milestones.
• Coordinate issue resolution activities by tracking actions, aligning stakeholders and escalating blockers where required.
• Ensure project documentation, approvals and deliverables are maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
• Build strong working relationships with customers and support the delivery of a positive customer experience throughout project execution.

Stakeholder and Supplier Management:

• Support communication with customers, suppliers, partners and contractors throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate meetings, workshops and progress reviews, ensuring actions and decisions are documented and tracked to completion.
• Assist with supplier management, procurement activities and logistics coordination.
• Help ensure technical, commercial and delivery objectives remain aligned across stakeholders.
• Support customer reporting and project status presentations.

Project Governance:

• Maintain project management tools, dashboards and reporting systems.
• Support risk management activities including the identification, tracking, and mitigation of project risks and issues.
• Support lessons-learned activities and continuous improvement initiatives across the project team.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure project activities comply with company and customer health and safety requirements.
• Help improve project management processes, templates and ways of working as IONATE continues to scale.

Procurement and Supply Chain:

• Create and manage purchase orders, monitor supplier progress, and track equipment deliveries to site.
• Coordinate procurement activities across multiple projects, ensuring materials and services are ordered in line with project schedules.
• Coordinate logistics for transportation, customs clearance, and on-site receipt of materials.
• Support the coordination of factory acceptance testing (FAT) activities, ensuring equipment, documentation and logistics are prepared in advance.

Requirements

• Degree in Engineering, Project Management, Business Management or a related discipline.
• Experience supporting the delivery of engineering, technology, infrastructure or construction projects.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and priorities simultaneously.
• Experience using project management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Zoho or equivalent.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate project documentation.
• Comfortable working with multidisciplinary technical teams and communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proactive, self-motivated and comfortable operating within a fast-paced start-up environment.
• Willingness to travel occasionally to customer and project sites.

It would be highly valued if you have:

• Experience working in energy, utilities, renewable energy, power systems, industrial technology or hardware development environments.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies such as PRINCE2, PMP, Agile or equivalent.
• Experience supporting supplier management, procurement or logistics activities.
• Knowledge of project budgeting, forecasting and risk management practices.

Benefits

• Employee Option Plan: You get equity in IONATE, so as we succeed so do you.
• Private Medical & Dental Insurance: From day one, we provide you with full, comprehensive private medical and dental cover through Bupa. You also have the option to add any dependents to your cover. Please ask us for more details.
• Company pension: a flexible, and sustainable pension product to help you plan for your future.
• Career Development: It's important to us that you have the opportunity for ongoing professional development and career growth. You will receive an annual budget for professional development and work with your team to set and reach goals every year.
• Flexible working schedules: You will be based in our modern West London offices and have the flexibility for hybrid work-from-home arrangements. Talk to us at the application process about this.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Low carbon travel is important for everyone, so we have in place a cycle scheme to help you purchase a bicycle.
• Slow travel: We believe in a low carbon future, so if you wish to travel by a lower carbon method - but it takes much longer than flying - we will give you an extra 2 slow travel days per year.