At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative R&D projects in animal health, driving technical excellence and collaboration.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company dedicated to improving animal health through technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a culture of continuous learning.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in animal health while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience in system architecture and leading development teams is essential.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 € per year.
Location: Cambridgeshire, U.K. or San Diego, U.S. – 25% travel.
As Technology Lead, you will be the technical cornerstone of our product team, driving architecture, technical quality, and delivery across hardware, software, data, AI and design. You will partner closely with Product Managers, designers and engineers to ensure technical solutions align with product goals, customer needs, and business outcomes.
Key Responsibilities- Collaborate with Product Managers and designers to translate product goals into technical solutions, focusing on value, business outcomes, and user experience.
- Define and lead product architecture, ensuring scalability, performance, and maintainability.
- Lead product technical design and implementation of product features, ensuring alignment with product vision and customer needs throughout the product lifecycle.
- Drive architectural decisions, advocating best practices in hardware development, software development, data, AI, testing, and deployment.
- Partner with functional R&D leads to support and grow engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence.
- Mentor and coach engineers, modeling best practices across hardware, software, and data engineering.
- Collaborate cross‑functionally with R&D, Product Management, Design, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success to ensure alignment and delivery.
- Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across cross‑functional teams, connecting technical teams directly with customers as appropriate.
- Ensure speed to market while maintaining focus on quality, scalability, and performance.
- Identify technical risks early and define mitigation strategies.
- Stay current with emerging technologies, industry trends, and competitive landscape to improve product capabilities.
- Drive innovation by leveraging internal platforms and core technologies, exploring new approaches.
- Share accountability with the Product Manager for delivering measurable results against agreed product metrics.
- Define, track, and report on technical performance metrics such as system uptime, scalability, reliability, technical debt, and code quality.
- Ensure engineering practices meet high standards for security, compliance, and sustainability.
- Take ownership of technical trade‑offs, balancing customer needs, business outcomes, and long‑term maintainability.
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, information systems, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Proven experience in system architecture/engineering, technical leadership, or leading development teams in a product‑driven environment.
- Strong technical expertise in relevant programming languages, frameworks, and cloud infrastructure.
- Demonstrated expertise in hardware design and engineering as well as software development practices.
- Deep understanding of the product development lifecycle and agile methodologies.
- Excellent problem‑solving skills and ability to make sound technical decisions under uncertainty.
- Experience mentoring and leading engineering teams to deliver high‑quality, scalable solutions.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with customers, Product, Design, and Business stakeholders.
- Passion for building products that solve real customer problems and deliver measurable value.
- Mindset of ownership, accountability, and customer focus; comfortable driving outcomes through others.
- Business experience in both large‑scale companies and start‑ups preferred.
- Passion for fostering team innovation and leveraging collective ideas across cross‑functional colleagues.
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Cloud Technology
- Collaborative Communications
- Collaborative Leadership
- Electrical Engineering
- Hardware Development
- Manufacturing
- Pasture Management
- Product Lifecycle
- Product Management
- Technical Debt
- Technical Leadership
- Business Enterprise Architecture
- Capability Development
- Emerging Technologies
- Financial Management
- Innovation
- Organizational Structures
- Portfolio Management
- Professional Development
- Solution Architecture
- Stakeholder Relationship Management
- Strategic Planning
- Workforce Planning
Director R&D Technical Lead – Animal Health, U.K. (Cambridgeshire)/U.S. (San Diego) employer: MSD Animal Health UK Ltd
As a leading employer in the Animal Health sector, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel. With a strong focus on professional development and mentorship, we provide ample opportunities for growth while ensuring a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. Located in the vibrant regions of Cambridgeshire, U.K. and San Diego, U.S., our teams benefit from a dynamic atmosphere that encourages creativity and technical excellence, making us an ideal place for passionate individuals looking to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director R&D Technical Lead – Animal Health, U.K. (Cambridgeshire)/U.S. (San Diego)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A personal connection can often get you a foot in the door faster than a CV.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its products, especially in the animal health sector. Show them you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with their needs. Highlight your technical leadership and collaboration skills, as they’re key for this role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace Director R&D Technical Lead – Animal Health, U.K. (Cambridgeshire)/U.S. (San Diego)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in system architecture and technical leadership. We want to see how your skills align with our product goals and customer needs!
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical skills! Whether it’s cloud infrastructure or hardware development, let us know how you’ve used these in past projects. We love seeing real examples of your work.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:Since this role involves working closely with various teams, emphasise your collaborative experiences. Share stories about how you’ve partnered with Product Managers, designers, or engineers to drive successful outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at MSD Animal Health UK Ltd
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Director R&D Technical Lead, you'll need to showcase your deep understanding of system architecture and engineering. Brush up on relevant programming languages, cloud infrastructure, and hardware design principles. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past projects.
✨Align with Product Goals
Make sure you can articulate how technical solutions can drive product goals and customer needs. Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with Product Managers and designers to translate visions into actionable plans. This will demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between tech and business.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Highlight your experience in mentoring and leading engineering teams. Be prepared to discuss specific instances where you've fostered a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence. This is crucial for a role that involves driving innovation and collaboration across cross-functional teams.
✨Stay Current and Innovative
Research emerging technologies and industry trends relevant to animal health and product development. Be ready to share your thoughts on how these can improve product capabilities. Showing that you're proactive about innovation will set you apart as a candidate who can drive the company forward.
