Lead Systems Engineer (Technical Authority)

ghd hair; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ghd hair is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer (Technical Authority) based in our Cambridge office. You will be the technical authority accountable for delivering high-performance, consumer‑centric haircare products, alongside the PM and PO, within a defined budget and timeline.

In this 12-month fixed-term role, you will lead a multi-disciplinary team, drive design realisation, validation, and coordination with suppliers and the EMS manufacturer to launch products that meet safety and performance

Qualifications

• Degree or HNC/HND with significant design/tech experience.
• Strong skills with electronics-based products.
• Experience transferring complex products into manufacture.
• Excellent planning, organising and attention to detail.
• Effective communication across disciplines and to management.
• Willingness to travel to China and EU.
• Experience with electronic control systems.
• Experience with high-temperature applications.
• Understanding of first-principle physics.
• Experience in consumer trialling during development.

Responsibilities

• Organise generation of initial prototypes for evaluation and user testing.
• Align with the PM and PO on project status, schedule and deliverables.
• Work in cross-functional project teams in iterative new product development, ensuring the product requirements and system are defined, implemented, and validated throughout all phases of development.
• Utilise broad engineering experience to aid the design phases by leading the technical team in design realisation, mechanical design, electrical integration, verification and validation of performance and end results.
• Ensure clear owners are assigned to each key aspect of a concept or detailed design area of a product.
• Work with discipline heads to ensure that project timescales are achievable given team loadings.
• In industrialisation phases, support the product level validation, product launch and continue support throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead the team in discussions with 3rd-party suppliers and the chosen manufacturer (EMS) to ensure parts and tools are qualified and sample production runs are achieved.
• Coordinate with the Hong Kong NPI team to prepare the product for mass manufacture.

Skills

Electronics design

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Agile project management

Systems engineering

Technical communication

Education

Degree or HNC/HND

Job description

Lead Systems Engineer (Technical Authority)

Cambridge Office

R&D

Full time

Fixed Term General

About this role

The systems engineer develops high performance and high-quality hair care products as the technical authority (TA), working alongside the Project Manager (PM) and Product Owner (PO). The TA is accountable to the business for the technical delivery of a new product to market. They are provided with a multi‑disciplinary team, budget, a timeline and stakeholder requirements and work to deliver the best consumer‑centric product possible within these constraints.

They are expected to work in a high‑uncertainty environment to deliver products with a high degree of innovation. As the most senior full‑time allocated team member on the product development, the TA is the first point of call for decision‑making and escalations. In daily leadership of the team within R&D, the TA is responsible for coaching team members on accountability, communication and agile work practices. An excellent TA fosters a collaborative team that challenges each other and holds each other accountable to work in the best interest of the project.

Please note that this position is a 12‑month fixed term contract.

Location

This role will be based in our Cambridge office.

Job Role and Responsibilities

Concept Generation

• Organise the generation of initial prototypes for evaluation and user testing.

Product Development

• Align with the PM and PO on project status, schedule and deliverables.
• Work in cross‑functional project teams in iterative new product development, ensuring the product requirements and system are defined, implemented, and validated throughout all phases of development.
• Utilise broad engineering experience to aid the design phases by leading the technical team in design realisation, mechanical design, electrical integration, verification and validation of performance and end results.
• Ensure clear owners are assigned to each key aspect of a concept or detailed design area of a product.
• Work with discipline heads to ensure that project timescales are achievable given team loadings.
• In industrialisation phases, support the product level validation, product launch and continue support throughout the product lifecycle.

Transfer to Manufacture

• Lead the team in discussions with 3rd‑party suppliers and the chosen manufacturer (EMS) to ensure parts and tools are qualified and sample production runs are achieved.
• Coordinate with the Hong Kong NPI team to prepare the product for mass manufacture.

Requirements

• Degree or HNC/HND with significant experience in a design and technology company or high‑end electronic consumer products company.
• Strong skills and experience with electronics‑based products.
• Understanding of transferring complex products into manufacture.
• Exceptional planning and organising skills working within exacting timescales.
• Methodical approach with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent communication to technical and non‑technical personnel across multiple disciplines and to management committee level.
• Prepared to occasionally travel to China and EU.
• Actively seeks to build and develop relationships both internally and externally.
• Strong experience with electronic control systems.
• Experience of developing products used in high temperature applications.
• Understanding of first‑principle physics.
• Experience of consumer trialling of products throughout the development phases.

Values

• Collaborative – We work together to create the extraordinary.
• Creative – We foster creativity & excellence to create value for our brands and business.
• Courageous – We are agile, entrepreneurial & own our future.
• Connected – We stay connected and ensure we are always consumer‑first.
• Committed – We are responsible for our impact on others & the planet.