Engineering Leader

Kidde Global Solutions; Herne Bay; On-site; GBP 79,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

Kidde Global Solutions, based in Herne Bay, is seeking an Engineering Leader to head a global fire technology organization, developing wireless fire detection and digital connectivity solutions. Based in Herne Bay, you will manage distributed teams across engineering hubs, driving innovation in a high-growth, technology-driven industry delivering reliable commercial fire alarm products worldwide.

The role emphasizes leadership, execution, and strategy, with responsibilities spanning end-to-end

Qualifications

• 15+ years of engineering experience, with 7+ years in leadership roles.
• Proven track record leading global, multi-site engineering teams.
• Deep expertise in the fire safety application space.
• Strong technical background in software, hardware, cloud, and embedded systems.
• Experience managing large budgets ($5M+) and resource planning.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to drive both execution and long-term transformation in a fast-moving environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale a global engineering team with high performance and business alignment.
• Oversee end-to-end development lifecycle for fire & security solutions, from R&D to deployment.
• Define and execute the engineering strategy aligned with the company vision.
• Drive platform consolidation and technology standardization.
• Foster collaboration across engineering centers for seamless execution.
• Implement best practices for agile, DevOps, and cross-functional alignment.
• Manage the engineering budget and capacity planning; optimize resources.

Skills

Leadership experience

Global team leadership

Fire safety domain knowledge

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Execution & transformation

Strategy & vision

Tools

Cloud

IoT

AI

Cybersecurity

Embedded systems

Job description

The Next Level of Fire & Life Safety Leadership

With more than two centuries of combined history, brands like Kidde, Kidde Commercial, Edwards, GST, Badger, and Aritech have been leading the way in protecting people and property around the world. Now, we’re taking that leadership to the next level. Kidde Global Solutions brings together the most trusted and iconic brands in safety, building upon our shared experience and expertise to address the needs and challenges of more customers in more places. With an unmatched portfolio of solutions and services, and a commitment to constant innovation we’re elevating the standards for an entire industry – and establishing the next level of fire and life safety leadership.

At Kidde Global Solutions, you’re joining a global technology leader in fire and life safety solutions and our employees are the heart of it all. With industry-defining brands in life safety and security, you’ll be part of a legacy of leadership working with cutting‑edge technologies that protect lives and property worldwide. As a leading fire safety brand, our mission is to provide solutions that protect people and property from the effects of fire and related hazards. We’re committed to expanding our impact and providing dynamic opportunities for growth within our team. You’ll be part of a company that prioritizes quality, integrity, collaboration, and customer care, with the resources, training, and incentives to ensure your success every step of the way.

Annual Base Salary Rate: £79,025 - £92,970

Position Summary

As the Engineering Leader, you will lead a global fire technology organization, overseeing the development of wireless fire detection, and digital connectivity solutions. Based in Herne Bay, you will manage and collaborate with distributed team across multiple engineering hubs, driving innovation, execution, and collaboration in a high-growth, technology driven industry. Your work will play a key part in delivering highly reliable, cutting‑edge commercial fire alarm products to customers globally.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Execution

• Lead and scale a global engineering team, ensuring high performance and alignment with business objectives.
• Oversee the end-to-end development lifecycle for fire & security solutions, from R&D to deployment.
• Balance execution and transformation, ensuring the team delivers on near-term product goals while modernizing platforms and architectures

Strategy & Innovation

• Define and execute the engineering strategy, ensuring its alignment with the company’s vision for Kidde global solutions.
• Drive platform consolidation and technology standardization.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, incorporating emerging technologies (AI, cloud, IoT, cybersecurity) into our product roadmap.

Global Team & Organizational Development

• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing, distributed engineering organization.
• Foster collaboration across engineering centers, ensuring seamless execution and knowledge sharing.
• Implement best practices for agile development, DevOps, and cross‑functional alignment.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage the engineering budget, optimizing resource allocation and cost efficiency.
• Utilize engineering talent from regions with lower labor costs without compromising on quality
• Partner with finance and leadership on capacity planning, hiring, and investment decisions.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work with Product Management, Operations and Business teams to define and deliver world‑class security solutions.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, and Support teams to ensure smooth deployment and customer satisfaction.
• Represent engineering in executive leadership discussions, providing technical and strategic input.

Key Qualifications

• 15+ years of engineering experience, with 7+ years in leadership roles.
• Proven track record leading global, multi‑site engineering teams.
• Deep expertise in the fire safety application space.
• Strong technical background in software, hardware, cloud, and embedded systems.
• Experience managing large budgets ($5M+) and resource planning.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to drive both execution and long‑term transformation in a complex, fast‑moving environment.

World Leaders in Fire and Life Safety

Kidde Global Solutions is a world leader in fire & life safety solutions tailored for complex commercial facilities to homes. Through iconic, industry‑defining brands including Kidde, Kidde Commercial, Edwards, GST, Badger, and Aritech, we provide residential and commercial customers with advanced solutions and services to protect people and property in a wide range of applications, all around the globe.