Chief Technology Officer

University of Hull; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based higher education institution in Sheffield seeks a Lead Engineer to oversee the technology strategy and roadmap, driving advancements in data centre cooling solutions and compliance. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in hardware technology deployment and strong leadership in multi-disciplinary teams. This position focuses on energy-efficient cooling solutions and their integration in real-world environments, requiring excellent technical communication skills.

Qualifications

• Deep domain experience in data centre cooling or HVAC.
• A track record of taking hardware from prototype to deployment.
• Experience with controls and software integration.

Responsibilities

• Own the technology strategy and roadmap for the system.
• Lead R&D and engineering for multiple disciplines.
• Ensure compliance with data centre standards and regulations.

Skills

Technical communication

Team leadership

Thermodynamics explanation

Job description

Responsibilities

• Own the technology strategy and roadmap, taking the system from TRL8 through first market deployments and iterative product releases.
• Lead R&D, engineering and product across:
• Thermal systems and psychrometrics
• Mechanical design and packaging
• Controls, monitoring and software integration with DCIM/BMS
• Build manufacturing and supply‑chain readiness for large‑scale production, working with OEMs and key suppliers.
• Ensure compliance with relevant data centre, safety, performance, and sustainability standards and regulations.
• Recruit, mentor and inspire a world‑class engineering team spanning mechanical, electrical and software disciplines.
• Work closely with the CEO and board to secure customers, pilots, and strategic partnerships with data‑centre operators, hyperscalers, and integrators.

Qualifications

• Act as the technical face of the company with customers, partners, investors, regulators and at industry events.
• Deep domain experience in one or more of:
• Data centre cooling / HVAC
• Data‑centre infrastructure design, operation or integration
• A track record of taking hardware‑based technology from prototype through:
• Design for manufacture
• Certification and standards compliance
• Deployment at scale in real‑world environments
• Experience working with controls, monitoring, and software integration (BMS/DCIM/SCADA or similar).
• Comfort working near research and IP.
• Leadership experience: building, leading and coaching multi‑disciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong communication skills: able to explain complex thermodynamics and system behaviour clearly to non‑technical stakeholders.

Dew Point Systems is a University of Hull spin‑out bringing to market a patented dew point cooling system that cuts data‑centre cooling energy use and emissions by up to 90% versus conventional chillers, with ~2‑year payback and ultra‑high COP (>50). Our field‑proven systems unlock constrained power and carbon budgets so operators can grow compute, not cooling. The core technology has been invented by a team of industry‑leading academics, extensively trialled in real data‑centre environments, and developed to TRL8. We are now scaling production towards commercial deployment.