Head of Test & Integration

ESCO Maritime Solutions; Rugeley; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ESCO Maritime Solutions (UK) seeks a Head of Test & Integration to shape and lead the test and integration strategy across all UK programmes, ensuring performance, safety, and compliance.

This senior role will establish and operate a flagship Test & Integration facility, drive standards and process transformation, and build a high-performing, cross-site team delivering reliable tests and customer confidence.

Based in Rugeley with occasional travel to ESCO sites.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in test and integration within engineering/tech environments.
• Ability to set and deliver strategy across multiple programmes.
• Experience establishing and managing test facilities and infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of system-level test, verification & validation, and integration methods.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management at all levels.
• Experience in regulated sectors such as defence, aerospace, or maritime preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the organisation’s test and integration strategy in the UK.
• Lead the setup, commissioning, and operation of the new Test & Integration facility.
• Develop and implement equipment strategy to enable scalable test capability.
• Build and lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team across sites.
• Standardise processes, tools, and reporting for efficiency and quality.
• Serve as technical authority for test and integration; interface with stakeholders.
• Ensure activities meet schedule, cost, and quality targets.
• Drive a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategy delivery

Test facilities management

System-level test/verification

Stakeholder management

Defence/maritime experience

Job description

Role Purpose

The Head of Test & Integration will be accountable for shaping and leading the test and integration strategy across the entire ESCO Maritime Solutions (UK) business, ensuring that every programme and product test is delivered to the highest standards of performance, safety, and compliance.

Role Purpose

The Head of Test & Integration will be accountable for shaping and leading the test and integration strategy across the entire ESCO Maritime Solutions (UK) business, ensuring that every programme and product test is delivered to the highest standards of performance, safety, and compliance. This senior role will also oversee and ongoing support of the new Test & Integration facility — a flagship capability that will set a benchmark for excellence across ESCO Maritime Solutions. The successful candidate will drive a transformation in standards, processes, and culture, creating a high-performing test function that delivers quality, reliability, and confidence to customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the organisation’s test and integration strategy across all programmes and products within the UK.
• Lead the setup, commissioning, and operation of the new Test & Integration facility.
• Develop and implement the equipment strategy to ensure scalable, future-proof test capability.
• Build, inspire, and lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team across sites.
• Standardise processes, tools, and reporting to improve efficiency, traceability, and quality.
• Act as the technical authority for test and integration and principal interface for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure all testing and integration activities are delivered to schedule, cost, and quality targets.
• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and excellence.

Essential

Qualifications / skills required

• Proven leadership experience in test and integration within complex engineering or technology-driven environments.
• Demonstrated ability to set and deliver strategy across multiple programmes.
• Experience establishing and managing test facilities, including infrastructure and equipment strategy.
• Strong technical knowledge of system-level test, verification & validation, and integration methodologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills at all organisational levels.
• Experience in regulated sectors such as defence, aerospace, or maritime preferred.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent professional status.
• Experience with the defence industry, and specifically marine.
• Exposure to safety-critical or mission-critical systems.
• Knowledge of UK MOD regulatory environment.

Leadership Expectations

• Operates as a senior technical leader.
• Influences across functional and programme boundaries.
• Drives long-term capability over short-term programme pressure.
• Balances governance with agility.
• Demonstrates high professional integrity and accountability.

Additional Information

• This role will be based in Rugeley; however, occasional travel to other ESCO sites may be required on an infrequent basis (approximately 1-2 times per year).
• The nature of this role requires a regular on-site presence, with the flexibility to work from home when required.
• On occasion, it may be necessary to support unplanned test activities outside normal working hours. Such requirements are expected to be rare and infrequent.

All candidates must meet the security vetting requirements relevant to the role. For reasons of national security, applicants must be British nationals. Dual nationals may be permitted in exceptional circumstances.

Values

Integrity: Our values are the cornerstone of building and maintaining trust with our customers. When we align our actions with our values, we earn loyalty and respect, ensuring ESCO Maritime Solutions’ reputation remains strong.

Safety: We prioritise uncompromising safety standards to protect our people, partners, and mission-critical operations at every level.

Quality: We deliver superior quality through rigorous engineering, disciplined processes, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Customer Service: We build enduring partnerships by anticipating customer needs, exceeding expectations, and delivering with integrity.

Innovation: We drive mission success by applying forward-thinking solutions and advancing technology beyond conventional limits.

Teamwork: We achieve exceptional results through collaboration, mutual respect, and a shared dedication to our collective mission.