Meet Craig Vint - from RAF engineer to customer-focused innovator

When Craig joined tlmNexus in 2021, he brought with him 12 years of hands-on experience from the RAF, having joined straight from school and worked his way up to become a company approved B1 licensed aircraft engineer on the A400M.

“I was expecting to end up at Amazon,” he laughs. “I was doing all the prep, taking courses on programmable logic controllers, getting ready for the jump.”

But fate — and LinkedIn — had other ideas. The tlmNexus HR team had connected with Craig a couple of years earlier, when he quietly signalled “open to work” during the Afghan evacuation, Operation Pitting. “At the time, working in software delivery and consultancy wasn’t even on my radar. It felt like something senior ranks moved into — not mechanical engineers like me. But I’m glad I kept the door open.”

What attracted Craig to tlmNexus was the rare chance to stay connected to the Forces while transitioning into the world of defence software. “It was a way to continue to use my engineering knowledge and be part of something meaningful — just in a different capacity.”

He joined as an Integration Engineer, working closely with MOD customers to ensure tlmNexus solutions were being used effectively, particularly during major platform upgrades. “It was a great role for learning how our users interact with the tools and what they need from them. It helped me to understand how to bridge the gap between technical capability and operational application.”

Craig has since progressed into the role of Senior Customer Account Manager, after a period during which he led the Customer Integration Engineer team. He now manages the key Typhoon account, and is using his strong business development skills and deep operational insight to explore growth opportunities in the Air and Land domain.

“We’re solving real problems that matter”

For Craig, working at tlmNexus is about more than software. “You get to lean on your experience to help people manage risk, improve processes, and actually see the benefit to the end user. That’s really satisfying.”

The remote-first culture has also been a bonus. “There’s a relaxed, professional atmosphere, regular socials, and a shared focus on solving the right problems for the customer.”

At DI25 a recent industry event organised by Team Defence Information, Craig was struck by a phrase from one of the speakers, Caroline Bellamy, a Director in the Defence Digital NAD group. Caroline referred to the “System of systems” — the idea that solutions need to be exploitable by design, and that trust and collaboration across industry partners is no longer optional, but essential.

“It stuck with me because it’s the way we need to be thinking,” asserts Craig. “In the end, it’s about doing what’s right for the MOD. That’s the reason we’re all here.”

Craig and his wife married in 2023 and are expecting their first baby in November 2025 They both play tennis together regularly for their local club doubles leagues in Nottinghamshire. Craig also enjoys golf, F1, skiing, diving and running. He has completed two full marathons, and quite a few half-marathons and 10k’s.