Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of engineering practices for Thames Water's future.
- Company: Join Thames Water, a vital service provider for 16 million customers.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to drive innovation and change in a major growth area.
- Why this job: Be a key player in reshaping water infrastructure and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in systems engineering and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
At Thames Water, we make a daily difference to our 16 million customers by supplying 2.6 billion litres of water through 32,000 km of pipes, keeping taps flowing and toilets flushing. We deliver life’s essential service so our customers, communities, and the environment can thrive. We’re on a mission to shape the future of water for generations to come. Our AMP8 Business Plan (2025–2030) is our most ambitious yet, with a proposed £20 billion investment, more than double the last five-year period. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform water infrastructure across London and the Thames Valley, ensuring safe, high-quality water and a resilient network for the future.
You’ll have influence at the highest level, working across the organisation and engaging directly with senior leaders and directors.
What you’ll be doing as Head of Systems Engineering
Our Head of Systems Engineering is a new role where you will be at the forefront of transforming how Thames Water delivers resilient, integrated solutions across our entire network. You’ll champion a systems thinking approach, ensuring our engineering capability consistently delivers for customers, communities, and the environment – now and for the future. You’ll join us on a long‑term growth journey where engineering sits at the heart of decision‑making, driving the right environmental and customer outcomes. This is more than a role – it’s a defining opportunity to transform how we do engineering across the business, aligning with wider strategies and delivering visible leadership. You’ll be part of a major growth area, leading network upgrades and setting the scene for integrated systems, asset lifecycle management, and resilience. Your expertise will influence how we connect our engineering capability to the wider business through leadership, communication, and engagement. This is your chance to drive change and transformation, promote innovation, and shape a mindset that brings the whole system together.
Key responsibilities
- Leading the development and implementation of a systems engineering mindset across Thames Water and our partners.
- Promoting integrated catchment management, asset lifecycle management, and project lifecycle delivery.
- Providing visible leadership, inspiring curiosity, agility, and collaboration across teams.
- Developing and tracking a maturity model for systems engineering, driving new ways of working and continuous improvement.
- Ensuring technical governance, design standards, and best practices are embedded across all engineering activities.
- Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies and professional institutions.
- Managing and optimising resources to deliver affordable, innovative solutions that balance cost, risk, and performance.
Base location: Clearwater Court, Reading (with flexible working arrangements)
Working pattern or hours: Full‑time, permanent. A mix of office.
Head of Systems Engineering employer: Thames Water
Contact Detail:
Thames Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Systems Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, webinars, and meetups to connect with professionals in the water sector. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Head of Systems Engineering role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a portfolio or presentation that highlights your previous projects and achievements in systems engineering. This will help you stand out during interviews and demonstrate your capability to drive change.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research Thames Water’s recent initiatives and challenges in the water sector. Tailor your responses to show how your skills can help them achieve their ambitious AMP8 Business Plan.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Thames Water team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Systems Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the Head of Systems Engineering role. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to transform Thames Water's engineering approach.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: This role is all about visible leadership, so don’t shy away from sharing examples of how you've inspired teams or driven change in previous positions. We love seeing candidates who can demonstrate their ability to engage and motivate others.
Highlight Your Systems Thinking Approach: Since the role focuses on a systems engineering mindset, be sure to illustrate your understanding of integrated solutions and how you've applied this in past projects. We’re keen to see how you can contribute to our mission of delivering resilient water services.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets into the right hands!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water
✨Understand the Systems Engineering Mindset
Before your interview, dive deep into what a systems engineering mindset means for Thames Water. Familiarise yourself with their approach to integrated solutions and how it impacts customer service and environmental outcomes. Be ready to discuss how you can champion this mindset in your role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Systems Engineering, you'll need to inspire and lead teams. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led projects or initiatives. Highlight how you foster collaboration and curiosity among team members, as this will resonate well with their focus on visible leadership.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Thames Water values strong relationships with stakeholders. Think about how you've built and maintained these relationships in previous roles. Be prepared to discuss strategies you've used to engage with both internal teams and external partners, especially in regulatory contexts.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
The role involves driving new ways of working and continuous improvement. Come equipped with ideas on how to develop and track a maturity model for systems engineering. Share your thoughts on best practices and how you’ve implemented them in past projects to enhance performance and efficiency.