Head of Design and Engineering

Join to apply for the Head of Design and Engineering role at NextEnergy Group

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Join to apply for the Head of Design and Engineering role at NextEnergy Group

THE ROLE

This newly created and critical role sits at the core of NextEnergy Group’s evolving IT function. Reporting directly to the CTIO, you will be a key member of the IT senior leadership team. As Head of Design and Engineering, you will lead the integration of human-centred design, technical architecture, and modern software engineering to deliver scalable, secure, and intuitive digital solutions.

You will be instrumental in shaping and delivering a three-year technology transformation programme. Your work will ensure technology platforms support business growth and empower end users to drive innovation and operational excellence, aligning with our mission: leading the transition to clean energy through data-driven, technology-enabled innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy
• Champion the role of end users in shaping IT services that drive productivity, collaboration, and insight across our investment, development, and asset management businesses
• Define and lead the end-to-end design and engineering strategy, ensuring alignment with business priorities and CTIO goals
• Bring external perspective and advisory experience to shape best-in-class engineering and design approaches across the technology function
• Inspire and lead a growing team of 15+ professionals across software engineering, architecture, UX, research, and DevOps
• Oversee budgeting and financial planning for design and engineering, ensuring investments are value-driven, scalable, and aligned with NextEnergy Group\’s strategy

Human Centred Design & Innovation

• Embed user research, usability testing, and feedback loops to ensure solutions are frictionless, empowering, and aligned with the real needs of our users and customers
• Lead the transition from prototype to production, delivering enterprise-grade platforms
• Drive collaboration within IT and across our business and core functions, building trusted partnerships

Engineering & Technical excellence

• Oversee the design and delivery of cloud-native, API-driven architectures aligned to enterprise strategy as we transition to the cloud
• Establish technical standards and reusable frameworks that support scalability, speed, and operational resilience for our growing business
• Promote a PaaS-first approach with robust automation, testing, and DevOps pipelines guiding the engineering practice on what is great

Governance & Risk

• Lead design and architecture governance processes, balancing agility with quality and compliance, particularly for regulated entities within NextEnergy Group
• Work closely with the security and compliance lead to ensure alignment with all relevant security, privacy, and regulatory standards

People & Capability

• Build, coach, and retain a diverse, high-performing team across design and engineering
• Define career paths and development frameworks that align with NextEnergy Group\’s learning culture, with emphasis on emerging technologies and user-centred capabilities
• Promote a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement

Skills & Competencies

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Time management & prioritisation skills – effective workload management is critical
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (in English or/and other European languages)
• Flexibility and team spirit, open to new challenges
• Intellectual curiosity and ability to bring fresh ideas
• Delivery focus and proactive work ethic
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Passion for our mission of a sustainable future and transition to clean energy
• Alignment with our values: leadership, trust, responsibility, innovation, and bringing your alpha

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, UX Design)
• Proven leadership of cross-functional technology teams in design, engineering, and architecture, preferably in data-intensive sectors
• Deep expertise in human-centered design and full product lifecycle delivery
• Strong knowledge of cloud-native platforms, microservices, APIs, and DevOps
• Experience in scaling prototypes to enterprise systems with standards compliance
• Background in consulting or advisory roles, with external insight and hands-on experience in scaling environments
• Certifications in agile, cloud architecture, or design leadership
• Experience in regulated or fast-growing tech environments
• Right to work in the UK

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