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Principal Project Controller - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract
QinetiQ
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
Source date: 11/6/2026
About this role
Package: £50,400 - £56,000 (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits Role ID: SF20889 Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Principal Project Controller on a 12-Month FTC at our Farnborough facility, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds. The Role You will be fully responsible and accountable for project controls throughout the project lifecycle. Planning, monitoring, and controlling project performance. The Principal Project Controller leads the development and maintenance of integrated project controls processes across major programmes or portfolios. You will partner with Project Managers, Programme Managers, Commercial teams, Finance, and senior stakeholders to monitor project performance, identify risks and opportunities, and provide accurate forecasting to support strategic decision-making. Your responsibilities will include: • Scheduling : Maintaining project schedules including resource management. Proactively working closely with Resource Managers and Project Managers to seek the best outcome. Ensuring baselines are set and managed. Interrogating schedules to identify potential risks and issues and emerging trends that may need addressing. • Cost planning and control : Management of actual and forecast costs against budget including updating plans in line with change control. Evaluating cost variance, highlighting areas of underperformance, and making informed decisions to suggest recovery actions to ensure project performance stays on track. Applying cost control techniques to support the monitoring, management and controlling of costs such as critical path analysis and schedule risk analysis. • Analysis and reporting : Analysing and reporting data to develop a complete and accurate picture that will inform decisions regarding the management, quality, and control of projects. Providing clear information and certainty regarding schedule, cost, and risk position, including using Earned Valued Management (EVM) analysis (if required). • Performance management : Governance requirements and processes are followed as documented in the Business Management System BMS and the Project Management Knowledge NetworQ. Ensuring data structures, review cycles, review packs are in place to enable effective decision making. Essential experience of the Principal Project Controller : • Working knowledge of Oracle Primavera is essential • Has comprehensive/detailed knowledge of lifecycles and experience of applying one or more independently – Agile, Waterfall and Hybrid Desirable qualifications for the Principal Project Controller : • APMG Project Planning & Control (PPC) Practitioner We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you. This role is 37 hours per week and is based out of our Farnborough facility on a hybrid working pattern of 3 days per week on average, onsite. Farnborough At our Farnborough site exciting work takes place at our state-of-the-art facility, with high-energy laser technologies, our 5m pressurised wind tunnel which has a simulation capability that is unique in the UK and our large research and development projects is a real hub of creativity, research and innovation. Join our talented teams of Engineers, IT & Cyber Specialists, Project Managers, Group Functions Teams and many more to provide future defences in the UK. Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum. UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) UKD LI-DD1