At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative engineering projects from concept to investment-ready solutions.
- Company: Join Jacobs, a global leader in engineering and innovation.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Be part of a forward-thinking team focused on continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering with real-world impact and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and experience in driving structured innovation.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing.
Your impact
This is a great time to join Jacobs’ global engineering team as we build out our incubation capability. You’ll be working at the forefront of how engineering is evolving, helping shape and scale innovative solutions that improve delivery across major infrastructure programmes. It’s a greenfield opportunity, where you’ll take early‑stage ideas and turn them into validated, investment‑ready solutions with real impact.
Day to Day
- Lead the incubation phase from idea through to validated, investment‑ready solution
- Shape early‑stage ideas into clear problem statements and structured solution pathways
- Facilitate workshops with engineers, designers, and technical leaders to uncover challenges and co‑create solutions
- Partner with global teams to align stakeholders and build momentum behind new ideas
- Analyse current engineering workflows to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement
- Design future‑state processes enabled by tools, automation, and data
- Evaluate emerging technologies and assess their practical application within engineering delivery
- Translate opportunities into compelling, data‑led business cases for senior leadership
- Quantify value through KPIs, benefits modelling, and opportunity sizing
- Clearly communicate trade‑offs, risks, and strategic alignment
- Support the transition from concept through to delivery readiness and potential scaling
- Work with change teams to enable adoption and embed new ways of working
What’s In It For You
- Play a key role in shaping how engineering is delivered across global infrastructure programmes
- Work on high‑impact transformation initiatives with real‑world outcomes
- Influence strategy and investment decisions—not just execution
- Collaborate with experts across engineering, data, and technology
- Help build and define a growing incubation and innovation capability
- Develop a unique blend of strategy, innovation, and delivery experience
- Gain exposure to complex challenges across regions and disciplines
- Be part of a forward‑thinking team focused on continuous improvement and innovation
Benefits
- A global network of expertise and opportunity
- A culture founded on safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging
- Flexible working arrangements that support your well‑being and potential
- Opportunities to make a real‑world impact through global giving and volunteering programmes
- Up to 10% pension contribution
- 24 days of holiday (plus 10 optional purchased days)
- Free medical and income protection insurance and other benefits
Technical / Core Capabilities
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to structure ambiguity
- Experience facilitating workshops and driving structured innovation
- Ability to influence stakeholders across functions without formal authority
- Strong communication and storytelling skills for technical and non‑technical audiences
- Strategic mindset with the ability to simplify complex challenges
- Experience in engineering, digital delivery, consulting, or technical environments
- Understanding of process improvement, workflow design, or automation
- Experience developing business cases, including cost and value modelling
- Exposure to emerging technologies, digital tools, or data‑driven solutions (desirable)
- Experience working across global or multidisciplinary teams (desirable)
Incubation Manager in London employer: Jacobs
At Jacobs, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As an Incubation Manager, you'll have the unique opportunity to shape the future of engineering while enjoying flexible working arrangements, a strong commitment to safety and inclusion, and generous benefits including a substantial pension contribution and comprehensive health insurance. Join us in making a real-world impact through transformative initiatives and continuous professional growth within a global network of experts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Incubation Manager in London
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like Jacobs.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like Jacobs.
We think you need these skills to ace Incubation Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at Jacobs that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at Jacobs and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at Jacobs
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Jacobs, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show Jacobs that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At Jacobs, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
