R&D Manager - Heat Pumps
23 hours ago
Craigavon
Overview As R&D Manager you will lead a hands-on engineering team through the full development lifecycle of air source heat pump hardware. You will set the technical direction, partner with product and manufacturing, and drive products from concept to market. This senior role combines leadership with technical delivery in a fast-paced, impact-focused environment. You will shape next-generation heat pump technology at a company committed to greener, cheaper energy. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, scalable hardware solutions. ResponsibilitiesLead engineers and technicians across the full hardware development lifecycleDefine and maintain the technical roadmap for heat pump R&DCoordinate with platform, firmware, and design teams to ensure integrated hardware decisionsOversee design, testing, and validation of heat pump hardware (refrigeration circuits, controls, heat exchangers, system integration)Lead component selection and supplier evaluation to meet performance, cost, and reliability targetsManage lab and field testing programs and use real-world data to inform decisionsLead compliance testing (MCS, CE/UKCA, EN 14511, F-Gas, ErP) and manage test houses and certification bodiesSpecify, commission, and maintain test rigs and lab facilitiesMonitor market trends and emerging technologies to guide product directionIdentify and manage technical risk to keep projects on scheduleSupport professional development of engineers and technicians Key requirementsA graduate or postgraduate qualification in engineering (mechanical, electrical, or related)Experience managing an engineering team, including project delivery and workload planningSubstantial heat pump/HVAC/refrigeration product development experience with thermodynamics knowledgeTrack record of taking hardware products from concept to marketStrong systems thinking across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software domainsExperience in a fast-paced development environment with competing prioritiesClear communication skills for presenting technical information to non-technical audiencesleadershipcross-functional collaborationeffective communicationheat pump hardware developmentthermodynamicsrefrigeration systems