Head of Technology / New Product Development
Salary:
Up to £80,000
Location:
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
About the role
We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Head of Technology / New Product Development to lead the technical direction, innovation strategy and delivery of our advanced X-ray detector technologies. This is a senior leadership role combining strategic oversight with deep technical involvement, guiding both new product development and continuous improvement of existing products.
You will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, ensuring our technology roadmap supports business growth, product excellence and long-term competitiveness.
Key responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
* Own and deliver the technology and NPD roadmap for X-ray detector products, aligned to business objectives
* Lead, mentor and performance-manage a cross-functional technical team
* Manage development and process engineering budgets, timelines and resources
* Work closely with senior leadership to align technical priorities with commercial goals
* Identify, evaluate and introduce new technologies to improve product performance, reliability and manufacturability
Technology & Product Development
* Lead the design, optimisation and introduction of new detector and EDS-related products
* Drive continuous improvement and upgrades of existing products to support sales growth
* Oversee prototyping, testing, validation and transfer into production
* Provide technical leadership in resolving product quality or performance issues
* Guide production process engineering and ensure robust, scalable manufacturing solutions
Collaboration & External Engagement
* Work with Sales to translate customer requirements into technical solutions and support customer proposals
* Liaise with suppliers, partners and academic collaborators on component and joint development projects
Quality, Compliance & Documentation
* Ensure development activities comply with ISO quality and safety standards
* Maintain high-quality technical documentation and project records
* Contribute to technical reports, conference papers and patent applications as appropriate
* Ensure products meet regulatory requirements and do not infringe third-party IP
About you
Essential
* Educational background in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science or a related field (
* Experience in X-ray detector development, semiconductor devices or related technologies
* Strong understanding of X-ray spectroscopy principles, detector physics and pulse processing electronics
* Proven experience leading and developing technical teams (typically 5–10 people)
* Track record of delivering complex engineering or scientific projects from concept to production
* Excellent problem-solving, data analysis and technical communication skills
Desirable
* Experience with Silicon Drift Detectors or similar semiconductor photon detectors
* Knowledge of vacuum systems, low-noise electronics or thermal management
* Experience generating patents or publishing technical research
What we're looking for
* A hands-on technology leader who balances people leadership with technical excellence
* Someone commercially aware, collaborative and driven to deliver high-impact products
* A self-starter who thrives in a dynamic, innovation-focused environment