Head of Engineering
Westhill, Aberdeenshire or Inchinnan, Glasgow
Full-time, Permanent
Please note that this role requires security checks.
The Role:
This role is pivotal to the successful delivery of projects, product line extensions, and in-service support contracts. It will build and lead a high-performing international engineering team to develop cutting-edge products and deliver best-in-class aftermarket support. By driving execution and meeting contractual commitments, the role will play a key part in improving overall business performance.
What you'll be doing:
- Leading and tracking engineering delivery, ensuring progress aligns with agreed timelines and budgets.
- Driving accountability across engineering teams to consistently deliver against plans, with clear oversight and governance.
- Embedding strong engineering discipline by ensuring adherence to processes and best practices across the function.
- Developing and managing resource plans and budgets in line with strategic business priorities.
- Ensuring full compliance with safety standards, stage-gate governance, and customer requirements.
- Strengthening team capability through targeted development, training, and strategic hiring.
- Monitoring and delivering against key portfolio KPIs, including schedule, cost, and capability maturity.
- Championing a culture of continuous improvement, applying lean, agile, and systems engineering principles.
- Enabling innovation by supporting the integration of emerging technologies (such as AI, autonomous systems, and advanced materials) into product development.
What we're looking for:
- Proven experience leading a multi-disciplinary engineering function across a range of products or programmes.
- Demonstrated track record of successfully delivering complex engineering projects.
- Strong technical leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, develop, and guide high-performing teams.
- Commercially astute, with an understanding of how engineering decisions impact business outcomes.
- Collaborative leadership style, with experience empowering teams and driving cross-functional working.
- Experience operating within robust governance frameworks, ensuring compliance while delivering complex programmes.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Degree-qualified in Engineering (or equivalent), with Chartered Engineer status (or willingness to obtain), and experience within a technical IT environment; defence sector experience would be advantageous.
Why join us?
- Early finish on Fridays
- Competitive salary and benefits package aligned with experience (Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Cycle to work scheme, Company Pension, etc.)
- Clear pathways for career development and organisational visibility
- Inclusive and supportive culture that values individual contributions
- Meaningful work with impact across safety, innovation, and global operations
About Us:
James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration.
Visit our website at: Home | James Fisher and Sons plc
For more information about our values and behaviours, follow the link: About us | James Fisher and Sons plc
James Fisher Defence (JFD), part of the James Fisher Group, is a global leader in underwater capability, delivering cutting-edge diving, submarine rescue, and hyperbaric solutions to both commercial and defence markets. Operating worldwide, JFD is the foremost provider of submarine rescue services and a trusted name in submarine escape training. We’re also at the forefront of hyperbaric rescue innovation and a leading supplier of advanced diving equipment and saturation systems across the industry. Explore more about JFD
If this sounds like the ideal next step in your career, then click ‘apply’ now!
Due to the volume of applications, we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
At James Fisher and Sons, we are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.
To support an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience in the UK, we partner with Vercida. You can learn more about our approach by visiting our company page: James Fisher and Sons diversity, inclusion, culture - VERCIDA