Manager, Software Engineering (ML) in Colchester, Essex

Nordson Test & Inspection, a global leader in world-class metrology equipment and inspection systems, is seeking a highly motivated and talented Director of Software Engineering to join our team in Colchester, United Kingdom . Nordson XRT is seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Software Engineering to lead and unify a globally distributed software development organization supporting our advanced sorting and inspection technologies. This role will build and lead a high-performing engineering function across teams throughout Europe and Asia. The successful candidate will combine strong technical leadership, operational excellence, and organizational development capabilities to create a cohesive engineering culture across geographically dispersed teams with diverse histories, skills, and product responsibilities. This leader will balance the delivery of high-priority customer-specific solutions with the execution of strategic product roadmaps, architectural modernization, and long-term business objectives. A key aspect of the role will be driving the effective adoption of Artificial Intelligence, both within engineering processes to accelerate product development and within Nordson XRT products to enhance customer outcomes, system performance, and operational reliability. Engineering Leadership & Team Development Lead and develop a global software engineering organization across Colchester, Feldkirchen, Bangalore, and remote team members throughout Europe and Asia. Foster a unified engineering culture that leverages the strengths, expertise, and heritage of multiple development groups. Build organizational capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development. Support the continued growth and development of global engineering teams while ensuring effective collaboration across locations. Ensure predictable, high-quality delivery of both customer-driven projects and strategic product roadmap initiatives. Balance short-term business commitments with long-term platform, architecture, and technology investments. Implement effective planning, prioritization, resource allocation, and execution frameworks across multiple concurrent projects. Establish clear delivery metrics and operational rhythms to improve visibility, predictability, and performance. Partner with Product Management, Program Management, and other business leaders to align engineering activities with commercial priorities. Drive the development and adoption of common software architectures, engineering standards, development practices, and shared technology platforms. Champion modern software engineering practices including DevOps, CI/CD, automated testing, cloud technologies, and data-driven development. Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Lead the strategic adoption of AI technologies throughout the software development lifecycle to improve productivity, quality, and speed of delivery. Identify and implement AI-enabled engineering tools to accelerate design, coding, testing, documentation, and support processes. Partner with product and business leaders to integrate AI-driven capabilities into Nordson XRT products. Explore opportunities to leverage machine learning, predictive analytics, computer vision, and intelligent automation to improve customer productivity, equipment performance, and operational reliability. Establish governance and best practices for the responsible and effective use of AI technologies. Operational & Financial Management Manage engineering budgets, staffing plans, vendor relationships, and external development resources. Ensure delivery objectives are achieved while operating within corporate financial and resource constraints. Develop business cases and investment proposals supporting technology and capability advancement. Provide clear and proactive communication to senior leadership regarding project status, risks, resource needs, and strategic opportunities. Serve as a key member of the Engineering leadership team, contributing to divisional strategy and execution. Build strong relationships across Engineering, Product Management, Operations, Sales, Service, and Executive Leadership. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline. ~10+ years of software engineering experience with progressive leadership responsibility. ~ Proven experience leading geographically distributed engineering teams across multiple international locations. ~ Demonstrated success delivering both customer-specific software solutions and long-term product platforms. ~ Experience managing engineering organizations through periods of growth, integration, and transformation. ~ Strong understanding of modern software architecture, software development methodologies, and product lifecycle management. ~ Experience establishing common engineering processes, tools, and standards across multiple teams. ~ Strong financial, operational, and strategic planning capabilities. ~ Experience within industrial automation, machine vision, manufacturing technology, inspection systems, scientific instruments, or related technology sectors. Experience leading teams that develop software for hardware-enabled products and complex integrated systems. Knowledge of AI, machine learning, computer vision, and data analytics technologies. Experience scaling engineering organizations in India and managing global offshore development teams. Familiarity with regulated or mission-critical product environments where reliability and performance are essential. Strong business and financial acumen. Travel Regular travel to suppliers and other XRT sites both in the UK and overseas. We offer a flexible work schedule, a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for growth and development. Nordson Test & Inspection manufactures world-class metrology equipment and inspection systems to ensure electronic products are built to meet the highest standards. By joining our team today, you will help us bring innovative ideas to life. Nordson Test & Inspection is a global team that works to create machines and systems that improve the manufacturing process for a wide range of industries, including electronics, aerospace, automotive, energy, lighting, and medical. We offer hourly and salary positions in production, maintenance, customer service, quality, engineering, and more. We actively invest in our teams to help you build your skillsets and advance your career. We are looking for candidates who have a passion for inclusion, diversity and equity, and the ability to contribute to a culture where all employees feel valued, respected, and included. If you are interested in being a part of a team that is dedicated to providing advanced inspection and testing solutions and creating an inclusive and diverse workplace, please apply online with your CV. #