Innovation Engineer

The role includes but is not limited to:

• Initiating, managing and overseeing engineering innovation projects targeted at new product and service development in close collaboration with our international partners.
• Conducting technology scouting and horizon scanning activities to identify emerging technologies, platforms, and sensors that could enhance surveying capabilities, ensuring that we remain ahead of industry trends.
• Leading the creation and execution of innovation strategies for the Company, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives and long-term vision.
• Driving innovation across all levels of the organization and collaborating with both internal and external teams to achieve successful outcomes.
• Coordinating the development and testing of new survey tools, platforms, and sensors, ensuring they are suitable for deployment in wildlife and environmental monitoring projects.
• Managing the full product lifecycle from concept through to field testing and implementation.
• Working closely with the Engineering, Commercial, and Operations teams to integrate innovation into existing infrastructure.
• Collaborating with international partners and stakeholders to align efforts and maximize innovation impact.
• Coordinating project teams consisting of inter-departmental and inter-company colleagues efficiently, cost-effectively and with a focus on team development.
• Devising and conducting tests and experiments in coordination with other departments to advance the understanding and development of technologies.
• Contributing to and supporting innovation tenders, working closely with internal departments and international partners.
• Regularly producing and presenting reports on the progress of innovation projects, including key findings, insights, and recommendations, for both internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Sharing knowledge across internal and external teams to promote best practices and continual learning.
• Staying informed about industry standards, regulations, and best practices, ensuring that new technologies comply with all legal and regulatory requirements, both within the UK and internationally.
• Establishing and nurturing relationships with external vendors, suppliers, and partners to support ongoing innovation projects and to leverage third-party expertise and technologies.
• Any other responsibilities as the Company may see fit.

The successful candidate will need:

• Qualifications: A master’s degree in Engineering, preferably with a focus on optronics, environmental monitoring, or a similar field; and additional certifications or experience in aviation technologies would be advantageous.
• Skills & Knowledge: Positive and self-driven mindset with strong verbal and written skills; knowledge of engineering processes for configuration management, design and maintenance; excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; excellent attention to detail and time management; good knowledge of project management; ability to organise, coordinate and prioritise workloads, over multiple projects, to ensure key deliverables are met through project management; strong leadership and innovation management skills, with the ability to inspire and drive change within teams and across departments; in-depth understanding of emerging technologies, sensors, and platforms for aerial surveys and environmental monitoring; ability to translate technical concepts into actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders; strong project management skills, with a proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and complex, multi-stakeholder projects; and advanced proficiency in design software (AutoCAD or similar) and familiarity with modelling software for technology development.
• Experience: Experience of working in a R&D or innovation role; experience of working and interacting with a wide variety of stakeholders to understand requirements, communicate progress and manage expectations; experience producing design documentation through AutoCAD or other CAD software; experience leading or managing innovation-driven projects, particularly in the field of environmental monitoring or remote sensing; demonstrated success in developing new products or services and bringing them to market; experience collaborating with academic, research, and industry partners to foster technological advancements; and proven track record of successfully managing innovation portfolios, including new product developments and technology scouting.