Director of District Heating Engineering

HeatGrid Ireland; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HeatGrid Ireland is seeking a Head of Technical Development to lead the engineering function turning opportunities into investable district heating projects across Ireland. You will own concept design, feasibility, and the technical evidence for planning, funding and contracts, with handover to delivery when construction starts.

You will direct a multidisciplinary team spanning energy centre design, network design and customer connections, balancing design maturity, risk and project budgets

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services/Energy Systems.
• Typically ten years or more of design and technical development experience.
• Proven track record taking projects from concept through feasibility to construction-ready.
• Strong knowledge of district heating: energy centres, networks, and substations.
• Solid understanding of construction contracts and design maturity risk.
• Judgement in right-sizing engineering effort for each stage of development.
• Commercial fluency: reading a project financial model and impact on returns.
• Experience procuring and directing consultants, suppliers and contractors.
• Commitment to decarbonising heat in Ireland.
• Full driving licence and willingness to travel nationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead, grow HeatGrid’s technical team and set design philosophy for Energy Centres and Heat Networks.
• Direct concept and developed designs, basing design briefs and technical evidence for approvals.
• Own stage-gate criteria and balance design depth with project risk across the pipeline.
• Define procurement strategies and lead design handovers to construction and delivery teams.
• Provide technical inputs to financial models and fund applications.
• Oversee customer connections, utility interfaces and regulatory engagement.
• Establish design standards, templates and QA processes aligned to Irish/European codes.

Skills

Engineering leadership

District heating

Hydraulic modelling

Contract understanding

Budgeting

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related

Job description

HeatGrid Ireland is seeking a Head of Technical Development to lead the engineering function turning opportunities into investable district heating projects across Ireland. You will own concept design, feasibility, and the technical evidence for planning, funding and contracts, with handover to delivery when construction starts.

You will direct a multidisciplinary team spanning energy centre design, network design and customer connections, balancing design maturity, risk and project budgets