Lead Operational Technology Specialist

National Highways; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

National Highways is hiring a Lead Operational Technology Specialist - Tunnel Systems & Technology to act as the technical authority for tunnel OT, shaping strategy across SCADA, ITS, and related systems. This leadership role focuses on safety, reliability, and data-driven asset management within the tunnel estate.

The position is hybrid, requiring two days per week in an office at a National Highways location, with collaboration across the Digital Services Directorate to deliver integrated

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in operational technology within complex engineering environments such as tunnels systems.
• Strong understanding of functional safety, resilience, availability, and performance.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for tunnel OT and operations.
• Governance and assurance for tunnel renewals and adoption of new digital solutions.
• Define strategy for tunnel systems and roadmaps across SCADA, ITS, fire detection, ventilation, and telecoms.
• Lead business cases, procurement approaches, and supplier engagement for OT solutions.
• Mentor OT colleagues and drive continuous improvement across the OT community.
• Manage budgets allocated by senior OT leadership in line with governance processes.

Skills

Operational technology

Technical governance

Architectural roadmapping

Stakeholder management

Team mentoring

OT leadership

Industrial systems

Tools

SCADA

PLC

ITS systems

Industrial networking

Job description

As part of the development of our Digital Services function, we are recruiting to strengthen internal digital capability within the Digital Technical Competence team. These roles are central to building sustainable in-house expertise that supports the design, development, and delivery of digital solutions across the transport network.

A key focus of this campaign is creating new opportunities. As a result, we are recruiting a Lead Operational Technology Specialist - Tunnel Systems & Technology.

This is a critical leadership role, acting as the technical authority for tunnel systems and operational technology. You will ensure that products and services across our tunnel estate are safe, reliable, and fit for purpose, supporting the effective management of traffic while driving innovation, continuous improvement, and long-term capability development.

This is a hybrid role, requiring two days per week in the office, based at any National Highways office location.

• Provide technical leadership for tunnel systems and operational technology, working closely with the Principal OT Architect for Tunnels and Connected Vehicles and senior stakeholders to shape direction, offer challenge, and support informed decision-making.
• Act as the technical authority for tunnels OT, strategically driving governance and assurance processes in supporting tunnel renewals and the adoption of emerging technologies, digital solutions and data-driven approaches to asset management, with risks clearly understood and mitigated before deployment.
• Define and drive the technical strategy for tunnel systems, developing architectural guardrails, specifications, and long-term roadmaps across technologies such as SCADA, ITS systems (such as incident detection, monitoring, information, communication products), digital elements of Mechanical & Electrical Systems (such as fire detection, ventilation, drainage) and telecommunication systems to enhance safety, reliability, obsolescence management and performance.
• Lead the development of business cases, procurement approaches, and supplier engagement, promoting the adoption of COTS solutions and open standards while ensuring alignment to future architecture and organisational strategy.
• Build and strengthen Operational Technology capability by mentoring colleagues, collaborating across teams, supporting the OT community, and translating complex technical challenges into clear, accessible insights that drive continuous improvement.
• Manage the budgets allocated by the Head of Operational Technology Systems Engineering and Principal OT Architect for Tunnels and Connected Vehicles in line with the Digital Services financial governance processes.

About you.

• Deep expertise in operational technology within complex engineering environments such as tunnels systems with a strong understanding of functional safety, resilience, availability, and performance.
• Strong understanding of traffic control standards / specifications, with the ability to align technical solutions to legislative frameworks such as the Standards for Highways and the Road Tunnel Safety Regulations
• Experience working with technical standards and technology specifications, with knowledge of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) systems such as SCADA, PLC, control and automation systems, information products, monitoring and detection systems with good working awareness of environmental considerations, industrial communication protocols, networking, telecommunications and power systems.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights, working effectively with business and technical stakeholders to shape solutions, guide design decisions, and resolve complex challenges.
• Strong capability in technical governance, strategy, and integration, with ability to develop roadmaps, standards, and architectures, and ensuring systems are effectively integrated to meet business needs and performance outcomes.

About us.

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.

The Digital Services Directorate is helping to reshape the way National Highways operates by delivering digital, data, and technology services across all areas, from frontline to back office, in a modern and efficient manner. Our vision is to develop integrated information and technology that empowers our colleagues and provides real-time information to our customers, as well as integrating with intelligent vehicle and transport systems as they evolve, to enhance journey safety and reliability.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.