Head of Hardware & Systems Engineering

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Head of Hardware & Systems Engineering to turn advanced technology into robust, reliable and manufacturable products that protect people and critical assets around the world.

Reporting directly to the CTO, you’ll lead a growing team of over 10 engineers across Mechanical, Electronics and Systems, shaping capability, standards and delivery from early concepts through to manufacture. As a senior engineering leader, you will provide technical judgement and challenge, give the CTO clear visibility of priorities, progress, risks, dependencies and resource constraints, and contribute to the wider development and performance of OpenWorks.

This is an opportunity for an experienced engineering leader who enjoys technical complexity, develops talented people and brings clarity to competing priorities. You’ll have the scope to strengthen how we work and make a visible impact as OpenWorks grows.

Who We Are

OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England.

Our products provide ultra-high performance, real-time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations.

We are very proud to have supported a wide range of law enforcement and military operators, protecting many of the most high profile sites and individuals around the world.

The amazing things we do are only possible because of a dedicated and passionate team.

Security Vetting Information

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.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

Join a high-energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do.

Here’s what our benefits have to offer:

Rewarding Success - Competitive salary, starting from £90,000, plus a discretionary annual bonus of up to 25% of salary alongside a structured pay progression framework.

Enhanced Pension – Up to 8% employer-matched contributions to help you plan for the future.

More Time to Recharge – 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays, long-service rewards, and the option to buy up to 5 extra days.

Breakfast & Lunch on Us – Enjoy team breakfasts and freshly prepared lunches every day courtesy of Chef Mark and his team.

Health & Wellbeing – Private healthcare and life assurance for added peace of mind.

Sustainable Travel – Salary sacrifice schemes, including EV car and Cycle to Work options.

Team Socials – Regular events, from quiz nights and football to board games and more.

Learning & Growth – A culture that empowers you to challenge, grow and make an impact, plus a £250 annual learning budget to invest in the development that matters most to you.

What you’ll be doing:

Lead the Hardware and Systems engineering function: Own the leadership and performance of Mechanical, Electronics and Systems Engineering, building a high-performing, collaborative and accountable culture.

Build capability for growth: Shape the team structure, identify future skills needs and develop capability through recruitment, coaching, succession planning and professional development.

Own engineering delivery: Translate product and business priorities into achievable plans, taking accountability for capacity, resources and commitments across multiple projects.

Provide technical leadership: Set engineering standards, provide credible challenge and act as an escalation point for complex decisions, ensuring technical risks, requirements and interfaces are effectively managed.

Lead the product lifecycle: Oversee the transition of emerging technologies into product development, leading delivery from concept through verification, new product introduction and in-service improvement.

Ensure production readiness: Embed manufacturability, testability, compliance and supportability throughout development, working with Production Engineering and Operations to enable effective production handover.

Align teams and inform decisions: Work closely with Software, Intelligence & Autonomy, Product and wider business leaders to align priorities and resolve barriers, giving the CTO clear visibility of progress, risks and required trade-offs.

Improve engineering performance: Drive productivity and effective ways of working, balancing pace and technical rigour while contributing to the wider engineering strategy and business performance.

Expert technical knowledge: Bring deep expertise in Systems, Mechanical or Electronics Engineering, with the breadth of understanding to challenge technical decisions across disciplines and resolve complex engineering problems.

What we’re looking for:

Essential

• Proven engineering leadership: Significant experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams in complex R&D and product development environments.
• Technical credibility and qualifications: 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.
• Experience of growth and complexity: A proven track record of delivering in complex, fast-paced engineering environments, adapting to changing priorities as the business grows while maintaining focus on delivery.

Desirable

• Relevant technology experience: Experience in electro-optical, autonomous, radar, surveillance or counter-UAS systems.
• Defence Standards: Experience in regulated, safety-critical or quality-focused environments, or knowledge of defence engineering standards.
• Qualifications: 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.

More about us:

Vision

Help protect the territory and airspace of NATO countries and their allies.

Mission

Be a world-leading provider of autonomous technology for Surveillance applications and Defence

Values

Be a Good Egg: Earn respect, have mutual trust and be honest

Do cool stuff: We develop cool tech with an awesome team, and we get stuff done

Be empowered: We are autonomous, reliable and take personal responsibility

We are one team: Look out for each other and the team

Things go wrong: Fail fast, learn and move on

Have fun: We’re doing amazing things with passionate people

We Get It Done: Focus on what matters and work with energy to bring ideas to life