Global Head of R&D for Network Control

Hitachi Vantara Corporation; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic leader to head their R&D team in Grid Automation. This innovative role involves managing a global team of 150 professionals, driving product development in Power Systems and Network Control Systems. You will collaborate closely with senior management to execute R&D strategies, ensuring high-quality products and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. With the opportunity to represent the company at global industry events, this position is perfect for a visionary leader eager to make a significant impact in the field of automation and control systems.

Qualifications

• 20+ years in product development leadership in Power Systems or Control Systems.
• Experience in managing cross-country teams and large-scale projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D Product Group, overseeing 150 staff and driving innovation.
• Manage R&D budgets and represent the company at industry events.

Skills

Leadership

Product Development

Collaboration

Communication Skills

Technical Competency

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Engineering

MBA or related advanced degree

Tools

SCADA Systems

Job description

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.