Director of Engineering

Taylor Hopkinson; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Taylor Hopkinson is seeking a Senior Engineering Leader in Glasgow to head the design and delivery of solar mounting and tracking systems. You will direct engineers, coordinate with R&D and testing facilities, and drive innovative solutions for utility-scale solar projects.

You will ensure compliance with industry codes, mentor engineers, and engage clients and partners to deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Professional Engineer (PE) qualification preferred but not essential.
• Strong understanding of engineering principles, structural analysis, and industry codes.
• Experience with utility-scale solar PV systems and solar racking/tracker technologies.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, RISA, or equivalent design and analysis tools.
• Strong commercial awareness with customer-facing discussions and proposals.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent English; additional languages such as Spanish are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering team in the development, validation, and continuous improvement of solar mounting and tracking systems.
• Oversee special engineering initiatives, including evaluation and integration of emerging technologies, materials, coatings, and third-party solutions.
• Direct engineering analysis and structural calculations per industry codes and standards.
• Collaborate with R&D teams and testing facilities to plan and execute product development and full-scale testing programs.
• Monitor industry trends, technological advancements, and evolving design methodologies for competitive offerings.
• Support technical aspects of customer engagements, including responses to RFPs, RFIs, and due diligence.
• Act as a senior technical point of contact for external partners, suppliers, testing agencies, consultants, and stakeholders.
• Drive initiatives to optimize product performance, reduce material usage, improve installation efficiency, and lower costs without sacrificing quality.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and peer review to engineering managers and cross-functional teams.
• Build relationships with clients, regulators, independent engineers, and internal units to support project execution.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Project management

Commercial awareness

Fluent English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

RISA

Structural analysis tools

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the engineering team in the development, validation, and continuous improvement of solar mounting and tracking systems.
• Oversee special engineering initiatives, including the evaluation and integration of emerging technologies, materials, coatings, and third‑party solutions.
• Direct engineering analysis and structural calculations in accordance with applicable industry codes, standards, and best practices.
• Collaborate with R&D teams and testing facilities to plan and execute product development and full‑scale testing programs.
• Monitor industry trends, technological advancements, and evolving design methodologies to ensure competitive and innovative product offerings.
• Support technical aspects of customer engagements, including responses to RFPs, RFIs, and technical due diligence activities.
• Act as a senior technical point of contact for external partners, suppliers, testing agencies, consultants, and industry stakeholders.
• Drive initiatives to optimize product performance, reduce material usage, improve installation efficiency, and lower overall project costs without compromising quality or reliability.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and peer review support to engineering managers, project engineering teams, and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with clients, regulatory authorities, independent engineers, and internal business units to support successful project execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Significant experience in engineering leadership, preferably within renewable energy, solar PV, structural systems, or related industries.
• Professional Engineer (PE) qualification preferred but not essential.
• Strong understanding of engineering principles, structural analysis, and applicable industry codes and standards.
• Experience with utility‑scale solar PV systems and solar racking/tracker technologies is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in engineering software such as AutoCAD, RISA, or equivalent design and analysis tools.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience supporting customer‑facing technical discussions and proposal processes.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage multiple priorities, and drive engineering excellence in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent English required; additional language skills such as Spanish would be advantageous.