At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-performing engineering team to deliver innovative products and support contracts.
- Company: Join James Fisher, a global leader in engineering services across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport.
- Benefits: Enjoy early finishes on Fridays, competitive salary, private medical insurance, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values diversity and offers clear pathways for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in safety and innovation while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in engineering, strong technical skills, and a degree in Engineering or equivalent.
The predicted salary is between 51000 - 60000 £ per year.
This role is pivotal to the successful delivery of projects, product line extensions, and in-service support contracts. It will build and lead a high-performing international engineering team to develop cutting-edge products and deliver best-in-class aftermarket support. By driving execution and meeting contractual commitments, the role will play a key part in improving overall business performance.
What you'll be doing:
- Leading and tracking engineering delivery, ensuring progress aligns with agreed timelines and budgets.
- Driving accountability across engineering teams to consistently deliver against plans, with clear oversight and governance.
- Embedding strong engineering discipline by ensuring adherence to processes and best practices across the function.
- Developing and managing resource plans and budgets in line with strategic business priorities.
- Ensuring full compliance with safety standards, stage-gate governance, and customer requirements.
- Strengthening team capability through targeted development, training, and strategic hiring.
- Monitoring and delivering against key portfolio KPIs, including schedule, cost, and capability maturity.
- Championing a culture of continuous improvement, applying lean, agile, and systems engineering principles.
- Enabling innovation by supporting the integration of emerging technologies (such as AI, autonomous systems, and advanced materials) into product development.
What we're looking for:
- Proven experience leading a multi-disciplinary engineering function across a range of products or programmes.
- Demonstrated track record of successfully delivering complex engineering projects.
- Strong technical leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, develop, and guide high-performing teams.
- Commercially astute, with an understanding of how engineering decisions impact business outcomes.
- Collaborative leadership style, with experience empowering teams and driving cross-functional working.
- Experience operating within robust governance frameworks, ensuring compliance while delivering complex programmes.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Degree-qualified in Engineering (or equivalent), with Chartered Engineer status (or willingness to obtain), and experience within a technical IT environment; defence sector experience would be advantageous.
Why join us?
- Early finish on Fridays
- Competitive salary and benefits package aligned with experience (Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Cycle to work scheme, Company Pension, etc.)
- Clear pathways for career development and organisational visibility
- Inclusive and supportive culture that values individual contributions
- Meaningful work with impact across safety, innovation, and global operations
About Us:
James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration.
If this sounds like the ideal next step in your career, then click ‘apply’ now!
At James Fisher and Sons, we are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.
Head of Engineering in Westhill employer: James Fisher and Sons
At James Fisher, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive culture that values individual contributions. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through clear pathways for career development and a competitive benefits package, including private medical insurance and a cycle-to-work scheme. Located in Westhill, Aberdeenshire or Inchinnan, Glasgow, our team enjoys the advantage of an early finish on Fridays, allowing for a healthy work-life balance while engaging in meaningful work that impacts safety and innovation across global operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering in Westhill
✨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 Head of Engineering role you’re after at James Fisher and Sons.
✨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 James Fisher and Sons 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 James Fisher and Sons.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Head of Engineering at James Fisher and Sons, 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 Head of Engineering in Westhill
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Head of 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 James Fisher and Sons 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 James Fisher and Sons 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 James Fisher and Sons
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with James Fisher and Sons, 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 James Fisher and Sons 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.
