Cantera Project Management
Cantera Project Management was created to help organisations deliver complex, technical projects with confidence and clarity.
I’m Chris Miller, a programme manager with deep experience in engineering, robotics, new product development and high-performance technical teams.
For over 12 years at Dyson, I led some of the company’s most complex product programmes — including the Robotics portfolio and global launches such as the Dyson Huerist (2020) and Dyson Visnav (2023). These programmes required leadership across hardware, software, electronics, operations, finance and commercial teams; all working across multiple countries and time zones.
Before Dyson, I worked in defence, telecoms, and digital services — delivering multi-disciplinary engineering projects with high levels of technical and operational complexity.
Today, through Cantera, I bring that same structured, proactive, creative approach to clients who need hands-on delivery expertise.
My Professional Background
Founder of Cantera Project Management (2024–Present)
Providing contract technical programme management.
Clients and partners include:
- SharkNinja
- Neatt Product Design
- Spark Product Innovation
Dyson (2012 - 2024)
Senior Programme Manager, Robotics (2016–2024)
- Programme lead for Dyson’s robotic vacuum cleaner development.
- 150–200 team members, £2m annual budget, £10m CAPEX.
Global Programme Lead, UK & Malaysia (2014–2016)
- Led a small team of PMs across two countries, supporting 10–15 projects simultaneously.
Project Management (2012–2014)
- Delivered multiple overlapping NPD projects (Dyson Tap, Hairdryer, corded & cordless vacuums).
- Introduced resource-mapping techniques that improved long-term planning and reduced shortages.
Previous employers
L3-TRL / L3-Harris (defence), Orange (telecoms), Thales (defence)
Education
- MSc Computer Science — University of Bristol
- MEng Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering — Newcastle University
Project Management Services
I bring structured, technically informed delivery across the full lifecycle of product development:
- Early-stage concepts & requirement definition
- Multi-disciplinary integration (hardware, software, mechanical, operations, quality)
- Detailed scheduling & resource mapping
- Supplier and external partner coordination
- Risk and issue triage & prioritisation
- Daily/weekly leadership routines
- Technical reviews & decision-making forums
- Reporting packs (weekly, monthly, senior leadership)
Outcome: transparent, reliable delivery with early risk visibility.
Programme Management Services
For complex multi-stream programmes, I build the strong governance, structure and alignment needed to deliver under pressure.
Experience includes:
- Leading global programmes in different time zones
- Managing multi-million-pound non-salary budgets
- Integrating parallel product development streams
- Responding to external disruption
- Leading cross-functional communication at senior level
- Developing long-range 3–5 year product plans
Outcome: teams with shared direction, better decision-making, and reduced volatility.
Consulting and Advisory
Targeted support to strengthen your organisation’s delivery capability.
Areas include:
- PMO setup & improvement
- Governance frameworks
- Delivery maturity assessments
- Reporting systems (Jira, Smartsheet, Excel, Tableau)
- Rapid planning frameworks Agile, Waterfall
- Independent programme reviews
- Turnaround support for struggling projects
Outcome: improved project maturity and increased confidence in timelines
Get in touch
If you need structured, technically capable delivery leadership — I’d be happy to support your next project or programme.
Email: canteraprojectmanagement@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chris-miller-60549b1
Or send me a message using the form