R&D Manager - Heat Pumps

Worklane GmbH; Portadown; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Octopus Centre for Heating Technology, the hardware division of the Octopus Energy Group, seeks an experienced R&D Manager in Portadown to lead the heat pump development team. You will own the full development lifecycle from design to productionisation, shaping the technical roadmap and working with product, commercial, and manufacturing colleagues to bring new products to market.

You will manage engineers and technicians, drive cross‑functional collaboration with platform, firmware and design

Qualifications

• Graduate or postgraduate qualification in engineering (mechanical, electrical, or related discipline).
• Proven experience managing an engineering team, including project delivery and workload planning.
• Extensive heat pump/HVAC/refrigeration product development experience with thermodynamics knowledge.
• Track record taking hardware products concept → market.
• Strong systems‑level thinking across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software domains.
• Experience in fast‑paced development with competing priorities and delivery momentum.
• Clear and effective communication to non‑technical audiences.
• Desirable: field deployments and using operational data for improvement.
• Desirable: familiarity with UK/EU regulatory requirements for heat pumps.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers and technicians across full development lifecycle for heat pumps and components.
• Define and maintain the technical R&D roadmap balancing short‑term delivery and long‑term strategy.
• Collaborate with platform, firmware, and design teams to integrate hardware decisions with product/system strategy.
• Oversee design, testing, validation of hardware (refrigeration circuits, controls, exchangers, integration).
• Lead component selection and supplier qualification for cost, performance, reliability.
• Manage lab and field testing, using real‑world data to inform product decisions.
• Lead compliance testing to relevant standards (MCS, CE/UKCA, EN 14511, F‑Gas, ErP).
• Specify, commission, and maintain test rigs and lab facilities.
• Monitor heat pump market trends and emerging tech to inform direction.
• Identify and manage technical risk to keep projects on schedule.
• Support professional development of engineers and technicians within the team.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Team leadership

Heat pump/HVAC know‑how

Thermodynamics

Hardware product development

Systems thinking

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Strong communication

Regulatory awareness

Education

Engineering degree (BEng/MEng)

Postgraduate qualification (preferred)

Tools

Test rigs

Job description

Octopus Centre for Heating Technology is the hardware division of the Octopus Energy Group, one of the UK's leading energy suppliers. Based in Portadown, we develop and manufacture the air source heat pumps and associated hardware that Octopus Energy installs in homes across the country.

We’re changing the energy system globally, spearheading the transition to greener, cheaper energy through the installation of in-home technologies. Our team brings together deep technical expertise, commercial focus and a drive to move from idea to real-world product quickly.

We’re looking for an R&D Manager to lead the team responsible for developing our next generation of heat pump technology. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role, with ownership of the full development process - from initial design through testing, compliance and productionisation. You’ll set the technical direction for R&D, manage a team of engineers and technicians, and work closely with product, commercial and manufacturing colleagues to bring new products to market.

What You'll Do:

• Lead a team of engineers and technicians working on air source heat pumps and associated components across the full development lifecycle.

• Define and maintain the technical roadmap for heat pump R&D, balancing short-term delivery with longer-term product strategy.

• Work closely with the platform, firmware, and design teams to ensure hardware development is well-integrated with wider product and system decisions.

• Oversee the design, testing, and validation of heat pump hardware, including refrigeration circuits, controls, heat exchangers, and system integration.

• Lead component selection across the product, working with suppliers to evaluate and qualify parts that meet performance, cost, and reliability requirements.

• Manage the lab and field testing programme, drawing on data from real-world installations to inform product decisions.

• Lead compliance testing to relevant standards (MCS, CE/UKCA, EN 14511, F-Gas, ErP, etc.) and manage relationships with test houses and certification bodies.

• Specify, commission, and maintain test rigs and laboratory facilities to support the team's development and validation work.

• Monitor residential heat pump market trends and emerging technologies, using that knowledge to inform product direction and identify opportunities.

• Identify and manage technical risk throughout the development process, keeping projects on schedule in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

• Support the professional development of engineers and technicians within the team.

What You'll Need:

• Essential:
• A graduate or postgraduate qualification in engineering (mechanical, electrical, or a closely related discipline).
• Proven experience managing an engineering team, including project delivery, workload planning, and team development.
• Substantial experience in heat pump, HVAC, or refrigeration product development, with a strong working knowledge of thermodynamics, system components, and design tradeoffs.
• A demonstrable track record of taking hardware products from concept through to market.
• Strong systems-level thinking, with the ability to work across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software domains.
• Experience working in a fast-paced development environment, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain delivery momentum.
• Clear and effective communication skills, including the ability to present technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Desirable:
• Experience with field-deployed products and using operational data to drive iterative improvement.
• Familiarity with UK and EU regulatory requirements for heat pumps and low-carbon heating.
• Background in design for manufacture, particularly for volume consumer hardware.

We're very excited about this opportunity. We're looking for the passion, skills and experience to help shape and define the future of energy and business at a global scale. If you're reading this and grinning and want to bring this technology to the market at scale and speed, then we would love to hear from you.

Need any specific accommodations?Whether you require specific accommodations or have a unique preference, let us know, and we'll do what we can to customise your interview process for comfort and maximum magic!

Studies have shown that some groups of people, like women, are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the job requirements. Whoever you are, if you like one of our jobs, we encourage you to apply as you might just be the candidate we hire. Across Octopus, we're looking for genuinely decent people who are honest and empathetic. Our people are our strongest asset and the unique skills and perspectives people bring to the team are the driving force of our success. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute. Our commitment is to provide equal opportunities, an inclusive work environment, and fairness for everyone.