Global Head of R&D for Network Control

Hitachi Energy; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Hitachi Energy as the R&D Leader for Grid Automation and manage a diverse team of 150 professionals. This position involves steering product development and quality assurance in Power Systems with significant opportunities for global collaboration and innovation.

Qualifications

• 20+ years in product development within Power Systems/Control Systems industries.
• Experience with large-scale SCADA systems.
• Proficiency in English and strong presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the R&D Product Group with approximately 150 staff.
• Drive the development of R&D strategies aligned with growth plans.
• Manage R&D budgets and represent the company at industry events.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Innovation

Technical Competency

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Engineering

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

The opportunity

In this role, you will lead and manage Hitachi Energy’s Grid Automation global R&D team of around 150 professionals, focusing on the development and quality assurance of high-quality products in Power Systems and Network Control Systems. This is a hybrid working role and can be based in Switzerland, Poland or UK. Frequent travel required as per business needs, predominantly to Poland, Japan, and US (Houston) to support business needs and foster global collaboration.

How You’ll Make An Impact

• Lead and manage the R&D Product Group, overseeing four (4) Senior Leaders and approximately 150 staff while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Drive the development and execution of R&D strategies aligned with the company’s growth plan, ensuring high-quality products in Power Systems and Network Control Systems.
• Partner closely with the General Manager, Product Manager Lead, and PMO Lead to deliver superior products and drive product enhancements, ensuring the highest level of quality.
• Serve as the technology point of contact for customer escalations and opportunities, demonstrating strong technical competency and leadership.
• Manage R&D budgets and resources effectively to meet project goals and timelines, ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Represent the company at industry events, promoting innovations in network control and power systems engineering.
  
  

Your background

• A Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline. MBA or other related advance degrees are strongly preferred.
• Over 20 years of experience in product development leadership within Power Systems/Control Systems or related industries, with a background in Network Controls, Power Systems Engineering, and Control Systems.
• Ability to collaborate with and influence senior management in a highly matrixed work environment.
• Extensive experience in large-scale, mission-critical, real-time SCADA systems, essential for driving the development and delivery of high-quality products.
• Proven executive leadership skills, with the ability to manage cross-country teams and maintain a global strategic outlook.
• Proficiency in both spoken and written English.
• High-level communication and presentation skills, capable of managing multiple stakeholders and aligning on complex commercial and technical topics.
  
  
  

More About Us

Shape the future of R&D at Hitachi Energy!

Reporting to the Software Development Engineering R&D Executive, this role offers a senior R&D professional the chance to make a global impact and work shoulder to shoulder with the highest level of leadership within the Hitachi Energy Grid Automation business.

At Hitachi Energy, our Grid Automation R&D team focuses on automation, control systems, and advanced communication technologies to enhance grid efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. As a senior executive, you will have the freedom to lead strategic innovation, assess and develop groundbreaking products, and work with a truly talented and global team.

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future.

We employ around 45,000 people in 90 countries who each day work with purpose and use their different backgrounds to challenge the status quo. We welcome you to apply today and be part of a global team that appreciates a simple truth: Diversity + Collaboration = Great Innovation.