Head of Product Development

PowerPhotonic; Dalgety Bay; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

PowerPhotonic, based in Dalgety Bay, Scotland, is seeking a Head of Product Development to lead the next phase of growth. You will shape the product and technology roadmap, run customer-funded development programmes and guide the engineering team from concept to manufacture.

You will drive innovation, manage complex projects and coordinate with Production, Commercial, Quality and US teams to deliver ahead of schedule and within cost, while building strategic partnerships in defence, biomedical

Qualifications

• Degree in Physics, Engineering or Optics/Lasers or a related technical discipline.
• Proven leadership experience within a product development or engineering environment.
• Strong programme and project management capability.
• Track record of delivering complex customer-funded development programmes and NPI activities within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong stakeholder management, customer engagement, and commercial awareness.
• Desirable: Background in Optical/Opto-Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute product and capability roadmap.
• Lead customer-funded development programmes, internal R&D projects and NPI activities.
• Drive innovation, technology development and IP generation.
• Ensure product developments are delivered on time, within budget and to specification.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Product Development team.
• Act as a senior technical representative with customers, partners and industry stakeholders.
• Work closely with Production, Commercial, Quality and US engineering teams to bring innovative products into manufacture.

Skills

Leadership

Programme management

Customer engagement

Strategic thinking

Education

Degree in Physics/Engineering/Optics or related

Job description

Head of Product Development

Dalgety Bay, Fife

Full-time | Management Role

Lead the Future of Photonics

PowerPhotonic is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of advanced optical components and assemblies for high-power laser systems. Our technologies support customers operating in defence, biomedical and fusion energy applications, solving complex optical challenges at the forefront of innovation.

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Product Development to join our Management Team and lead the development of future products, technologies and engineering capabilities that will drive the next phase of growth.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the product and technology roadmap of a growing photonics business whilst leading a talented multidisciplinary engineering team and delivering innovative customer-funded development programmes from concept through to manufacture.

What You'll Be Doing

• Define and execute PowerPhotonic's product and capability roadmap.
• Lead customer-funded development programmes, internal R&D projects and New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.
• Drive innovation, technology development and intellectual property generation.
• Ensure product developments are delivered on time, within budget and to specification.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Product Development team.
• Act as a senior technical representative with customers, partners and industry stakeholders.
• Work closely with Production, Commercial, Quality and US engineering teams to bring innovative products successfully into manufacture.

What We're Looking For

• Degree in Physics, Engineering or Optics/Lasers or a related technical discipline.
• Proven leadership experience within a product development or engineering environment.
• Strong programme and project management capability.
• Track record of delivering complex customer-funded development programmes and NPI activities within a manufacturing environment.

Strong stakeholder management, customer engagement, and commercial awareness.

Desirable Experience

• Background in Optical, Opto-Mechanical, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience within Photonics, Lasers, Defence, Aerospace, or Advanced Manufacturing.
• Project Management qualification (PMP, PRINCE2, APMP, or equivalent).

Why Join PowerPhotonic?

• Work on technologies that enable next-generation laser systems.
• Play a key role in shaping company strategy and future growth.
• Join an ambitious, innovative business with international operations.
• Collaborate with highly skilled engineers.
• Make a tangible impact across defence, biomedical and fusion energy markets.