Head of Technical Services (UK)

OQC; Reading; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

OQC is seeking a Head of Technical Services to lead and scale our technical operations in the UK, including cryogenic laboratories, assembly workshops and machining facilities. You’ll oversee a team of technicians, machinists and supervisors, ensuring safe, reliable and cost-effective operations that align with our ambitious roadmap.

You’ll own budgets, vendor relationships and improvement programmes, while partnering with Engineering Operations to deliver on milestones and drive performance

Qualifications

• Experience leading engineering or operational teams in manufacturing, engineering or scientific environments.
• Proven project leadership in complex technical settings.
• Experience managing external partners and assessing supplier value for money.
• Strong reporting and presentation skills for senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and motivate the Technical Services team, including technicians, machinists and supervisors.
• Own the safe, reliable operation of UK technical spaces (cryogenic labs, workshops, machining).
• Oversee maintenance schedules, work orders and performance with clear reporting and metrics.
• Manage supplier relationships, contracts and services with cross-functional teams (Supply Chain, Purchasing, Legal).
• Lead cross-functional projects and improvement initiatives.
• Manage space expenditure, budgets and delivery timelines with senior reporting.
• Execute Engineering Operations roadmap priorities and ensure accountability to delivery.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Project leadership

Supplier management

Operational reporting

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Leadership experience

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Head of Technical Services

At OQC, we aren’t just theorising about the future; we’re building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we’ve successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started and we’ve recently closed our £260 million Series C funding round – the largest fundraise ever completed by a quantum computing company in Europe.

The Purpose

As Head of Technical Services, you'll lead the teams and technical environments that enable OQC's engineers and scientists to build, test and deploy quantum computers. From cryogenic laboratories and assembly workshops to machining facilities and international deployments, you'll ensure our technical operations have the people, infrastructure and operational discipline needed to deliver at scale.

The Role

Leading our Technical Services function within Engineering Operations, you'll have accountability for a team of technicians, machinists and supervisors, alongside the safe and effective operation of OQC's UK technical spaces. You'll combine people leadership with operational, commercial and project ownership—managing suppliers, budgets and improvement programmes while ensuring our technical capabilities keep pace with OQC's ambitions.

What You'll Be Working On

• Lead, develop and motivate our Technical Services team, including technicians, machinists and supervisors, creating clear accountability for delivery.
• Own the safe, reliable and effective operation of OQC's UK technical spaces, including cryogenic laboratories, assembly workshops and machining facilities.
• Oversee maintenance schedules, internal work orders and operational performance, using clear reporting and metrics to drive delivery and continuous improvement.
• Own relationships with external suppliers, assessing value for money and partnering with Supply Chain, Purchasing and Legal to establish effective contracts and services.
• Lead cross-functional projects and improvement initiatives, bringing teams together to resolve operational challenges and deliver change.
• Manage technical space expenditure, longer-term budget forecasts and delivery timelines, providing clear reporting to senior stakeholders.
• Execute agreed Engineering Operations roadmap priorities, aligning stakeholders around milestones and ensuring accountability through to delivery.
  

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience leading engineering or operational teams within a manufacturing, engineering or scientific environment.
• Proven project leadership experience within complex technical or operational environments.
• Experience managing external partners and assessing supplier performance and value for money.
• Strong operational reporting and presentation capability, including communicating effectively with senior leaders, customers and technical teams.
• Strong budgetary control, project forecasting and delivery management skills.
• Excellent stakeholder, supplier and relationship management capability, with the confidence to influence across organisational boundaries.
• A pragmatic leadership style—you can turn complex objectives into clear priorities, motivate teams and raise issues early with well-considered solutions.
• Degree or equivalent experience in an Engineering or Manufacturing discipline.
  

The 'Nice-to-Haves'

• Experience forecasting and managing significant annual operational budgets, particularly in the region of £2m–£6m.
• Experience applying Lean management and risk management methodologies.
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills.
• Leadership qualification or training.
• Health & Safety qualification or training.
  

Why Join OQC

You will join a world-class team at the forefront of the next computational era. We offer a culture of bold innovation, the chance to work with unique lab infrastructure, and the opportunity to see your work redefine the limits of computation.

Learn more about our benefits and positive work culture here: https://oqc.tech/company/careers-at-oqc/