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# Head of Hardware & Systems Engineering

- **Company:** OpenWorks Engineering
- **Location:** Prudhoe, UK
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** £90,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Configuration Management
- **Published:** October 15, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/details/5927707827

## About the Role

Essential

 * Proven engineering leadership: Significant experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams in complex R&D and product development environments.
 * Technical credibility: A strong Systems, Mechanical or Electronics background, supported by a relevant engineering degree or equivalent, with the confidence to challenge experienced engineers.
 * Full lifecycle delivery: A track record of taking products combining mechanical, electronics and software from concept through verification, new product introduction and manufacture.
 * Systems thinking: Strong judgement around requirements, integration, technical risks and trade-offs, with an understanding of configuration control and engineering change.
 * People and delivery focus: Experience managing performance, priorities and resources across multiple projects, building collaboration and maintaining momentum as priorities change.

Desirable

 * Relevant technology experience: Experience in electro-optical, autonomous, radar, surveillance or counter-UAS systems.
 * Engineering assurance: Experience in regulated, safety-critical or quality-focused environments, or knowledge of defence engineering standards.
 * Professional development: A relevant master's qualification or Chartered Engineer status through IET, IMechE or an equivalent body.

You must have the right to work in the UK; we are unable to offer visa sponsorship. Occasional travel may be required.

## Description

OpenWorks Engineering operates within the defence sector. As part of our recruitment and onboarding processes, we collect information that may be required to support future security vetting and clearance requirements, should these become necessary during employment., * Lead and develop the team: Build capability, ensuring a high performance across Mechanical, Electronics and Systems through clear expectations, coaching, recruitment and ownership.

 * Drive engineering delivery: Turn product and business priorities into achievable plans, managing capacity, resources and commitments across multiple projects.
 * Provide technical leadership: Set engineering standards, challenge designs and guide complex decisions, keeping risks, requirements and interfaces under control.
 * Take concepts into production: Lead development through prototyping, verification and new product introduction, embedding manufacturability, testability, compliance and supportability.
 * Bring disciplines together: Work closely with Software, Intelligence & Autonomy, Product and Operations to deliver reliable, integrated products.
 * Align teams and remove barriers: Clarify priorities, ownership and dependencies across functions, resolve blockers and escalate trade-offs that need wider business decisions.