At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in delivering innovative engineering solutions for electric utilities across Europe.
- Company: AspenTech, a leader in industrial automation and energy management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a culture of innovation and continuous improvement with global collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the energy sector while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in engineering with leadership experience in complex utility projects.
The predicted salary is between 61816 - 75552 £ per year.
The driving force behind our success has always been the people of AspenTech. What drives us is our aspiration, our desire and ambition to keep pushing the envelope, overcoming any hurdle, challenging the status quo to continually find a better way. You will experience these qualities of passion, pride and aspiration in many ways — from a rich set of career development programs to support of community service projects to social events that foster fun and relationship building across our global community.
The Director of Project Engineering – Europe is responsible for leading the Project Engineering organization across the European region, ensuring the successful delivery of complex SCADA, Energy Management Systems (EMS), Generation Management Systems (GMS), Advance Distribution Management Systems (ADMS), and related Operational Technology (OT) solutions for electric utility customers.
Based in Europe, the Director will provide strategic leadership for a geographically dispersed team of Project Engineers supporting Professional Services delivery. This leader will establish engineering best practices, develop organizational capability, optimize resource utilization, and ensure consistent execution across multiple customer programs while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, cybersecurity, and customer satisfaction.
The Director partners closely with the large Professional Services leaders, Project Management, Sales, Product Management, Customer Support, and Executive Leadership to drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, and long-term business growth throughout the region.
Your Impact
- Organizational Leadership
- Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing regional team of Project Engineering Managers, Senior Project Engineers, and Project Engineers.
- Establish the strategic vision, organizational structure, and operating model for Project Engineering across Europe.
- Build organizational capability through recruiting, coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and career development.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Develop engineering leadership within the organization by mentoring future technical and people leaders.
- Promote employee engagement and retention through effective leadership and talent development.
- Project Delivery Leadership
- Provide executive oversight for the engineering delivery of complex utility automation, SCADA, EMS, GMS, DMS, OMS, and Fluid/Gas projects.
- Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements and quality standards.
- Establish engineering governance, delivery methodologies, design standards, and technical review processes.
- Drive consistency in engineering execution across multiple countries and project teams.
- Provide executive support for critical customer escalations and complex technical challenges.
- Monitor engineering performance through key operational metrics and implement corrective actions where necessary.
- Engineering Excellence
- Establish and maintain engineering standards, processes, templates, and best practices across the regional organization.
- Ensure consistent execution of system architecture and design, hardware and software integration, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, cybersecurity and networking standards, and documentation quality.
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives that improve quality, efficiency, scalability, and customer outcomes.
- Encourage adoption of new technologies, engineering tools, automation, and digital delivery practices.
- Resource & Operational Management
- Develop regional engineering capacity plans aligned with business growth.
- Oversee engineering resource planning across multiple concurrent projects.
- Balance utilization, technical capability, and customer priorities across the engineering organization.
- Collaborate with Professional Services leadership to forecast staffing requirements and hiring plans.
- Manage departmental budgets and support operational planning.
- Identify delivery risks and implement mitigation strategies.
- Customer & Business Leadership
- Build trusted executive relationships with utility customers across Europe.
- Participate in executive customer meetings, project steering committees, and strategic reviews.
- Partner with Sales and Business Development during pursuit activities by providing engineering leadership, technical strategy, and delivery confidence.
- Support proposal development, solution reviews, project estimation, and risk assessments.
- Act as an executive sponsor for strategic customer engagements when required.
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Collaborate with Product Management to influence product roadmap based on customer and delivery feedback.
- Partner with Global Engineering and Product Development to standardize engineering methodologies.
- Work closely with Project Management to improve project execution and customer satisfaction.
- Coordinate with Customer Support to ensure successful transition from project implementation to operational support.
- Governance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with company quality standards, cybersecurity requirements, health and safety regulations, and applicable industry standards.
- Promote adherence to utility industry standards, engineering best practices, and regulatory requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
- Establish engineering performance dashboards and regularly report regional performance to executive leadership.
What You'll Need
- Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related engineering discipline.
- Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or related discipline preferred.
- Experience
- 10+ years of progressive engineering experience within industrial automation, SCADA, energy management, or mission-critical control systems.
- 5+ years of engineering leadership experience managing managers and technical teams.
- Demonstrated success leading geographically distributed engineering organizations.
- Significant experience delivering complex utility SCADA, EMS, DMS, ADMS, or related Operational Technology solutions.
- Experience supporting electric transmission, distribution, generation, or renewable energy customers.
- Proven experience leading engineering organizations through growth and organizational change.
- Experience managing engineering resources across multiple concurrent customer projects.
- Experience working within matrix organizations and collaborating across international teams.
- Experience supporting technical sales, proposals, and customer executive engagements.
- Technical Qualifications
- Strong understanding of Utility SCADA architectures, Energy Management Systems (EMS), Distribution Management Systems (DMS), Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS), real-time control systems, industrial networking and communications, high-availability system architectures, client/server and distributed computing environments, and cybersecurity principles for Operational Technology (OT).
- Experience with technologies including Windows and Linux operating systems, network design and communications, Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL or similar databases, JSON, XML, REST APIs, virtualization technologies, and utility communication protocols including ICCP, DNP3, IEC 60870-5, IEC 61850, Modbus, and MultiSpeak.
- Leadership Competencies
- The successful candidate will demonstrate strategic thinking with the ability to align engineering execution to business objectives.
- Executive presence with strong communication and influencing skills.
- Proven ability to lead leaders and build high-performing technical organizations.
- Strong commercial awareness and understanding of project financial performance.
- Excellent organizational and prioritization skills.
- Exceptional stakeholder management across customers, executives, and cross-functional teams.
- Strong coaching and mentoring capabilities.
- Sound decision-making under pressure.
- Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
- Ability to balance customer satisfaction with business objectives.
- Passion for operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance culture.
Travel
Ability and willingness to travel throughout Europe and occasionally internationally (approximately 25–40%) to support customers, project teams, and company initiatives.
The salary range for this role is $170,000.00 - $212,500.00. This range represents what we in good faith believe is the range possible for base compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on several factors. This range may be modified in the future. This role is also eligible for bonus or variable incentive pay. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, charitable giveback day, medical/dental/vision insurance, and retirement benefits to eligible employees.
Summary
Location: Reading; Medina; Cluj Napoca; Arnhem; Madrid
Type: Full time
Director, Project Engineering in Reading employer: Aspen Technology
AspenTech is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees, offering a rich array of career advancement programmes and fostering a vibrant work culture that encourages collaboration and innovation. With a commitment to operational excellence and community engagement, employees can expect meaningful work that not only challenges them but also contributes positively to society. The European locations provide a dynamic environment where diverse teams come together to deliver cutting-edge solutions for electric utility customers, ensuring a rewarding and impactful career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Project Engineering in Reading
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Director, Project Engineering role you’re after at Aspen Technology.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at Aspen Technology a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at Aspen Technology.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Director, Project Engineering at Aspen Technology, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Project Engineering in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Director, Project Engineering, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Aspen Technology a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Aspen Technology specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Aspen Technology
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Aspen Technology, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Aspen Technology want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
