Head of NPD

Sportable is a leading sports technology company on a mission to solve the hardest problems in elite sports using cutting edge technology. From bare metal to cloud, Sportable is a multidisciplinary mecca for sports and technology enthusiasts. If you're a data scientist, computer scientist, physicist, sports scientist, engineer, business graduate, graphic designer, mechanical designer, creative or just passionate about the intersection of elite sports and bleeding edge technology then Sportable is your place.

The Head of NPD is responsible for all aspects of Sportable's product development from conception through to high volume production covering prototyping, validation, ensuring quality and whole product lifecycle engineering. Sportable products set new standards with advanced tracking, data collection and actionable insights for our customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Be a major stakeholder in the company's technical direction, roadmap definition and execution:
  • Serve as an architect representing NPD and related disciplines with a specialised focus on electronics architecture. Collaborate closely with other architects in the company to establish a technical design authority that steers product development.
  • Lead the New Product Development team working in collaboration with other disciplines turning ideas and concepts into achievable technical solutions.
  • Responsible for the timely delivery and budget management of project.
  • Represent the company with key technology partners and foster strong collaborative relationships.
• Manage a small, high performing team of engineers:
  • Provide strong technical leadership across all of the Department's activities.
  • Leadership, coaching and mentoring to foster a high performance team culture.
  • Encourage continuous learning and professional growth, empowering team members to innovate and excel.
  • Direct line management of the team.
  • Defining the department hiring needs and strategy.
  • Cross-functional collaboration and resource management for projects.
  • Backlog management and prioritisation in collaboration with Project Management.
• Department Product Development Activities and Performance:
  • Responsible for department level objectives and tracking associated performance and progress via clearly defined KPIs.
  • Responsible for communication across all relevant internal business functions (ex: Manufacturing, SW/FW, Product and Project Management) to ensure the NPD project objectives, timelines, dependencies and deliverables are aligned with the business needs and strategy.
  • Lead cross-team technical discussions around medium and long term solutions required to realise the business strategy.
• Own engineering best-practices across all NPD activities:
  • Create, improve and maintain processes that are adapted to the company's size and context and optimise the Department's output and efficiency.
  • Work with stakeholders to support the streamlining of processes and optimise for consistent ways of working and a strong, collaborative, 'One Team' approach.

Technical Skills/Past Experience:

• Experience with Line Management of multidisciplinary teams.
• Outstanding technical engineering background in product development - preferably with a focus on Electronics and RF:
  • 10+ years in relevant industries and positions.
  • Track record of delivering complex products from concept through to manufacturing and commercial roll out.
  • Experience with complex electronics products.
  • Clear understanding of engineering constraints linked with Mechanical development, Compliance Testing, Manufacturing and Embedded systems.
  • Strong understanding of RF constraints and challenges.
  • Exposure to IoT products beneficial.
  • Industry experience in consumer electronics or similar a plus.
• Excellent Communication, written and verbal:
  • Ability to convey with clarity and intent information from top level management to engineers and vice-versa.
  • Experience representing at company level and leading department meetings with customers or key partners.
• "Hands-on" individual with broad experience and breadth of knowledge to support New Product Development (e.g. system architecture, PCB design and manufacture, EMC testing and compliance activities, embedded software development, electronics and system architecture, RF design and validation, quality and test, DfT, DfM etc.)
• Experience in a smaller company or start-up environment where the portfolio of responsibilities tends to be broader.

Reporting to:

• VP of Manufacturing and Engineering

Directly interacting with:

• Hardware, Manufacturing and Software
• Product Management
• Project Management
• Top Level management

Perks:

• Cycle to work scheme
• Generous annual leave - 25 days holiday excluding bank holidays
• Flexible working environment - remote working days
• Cake on your Birthday
• Perkbox after completing your probation
• Perkbox Medical
• Occupational sick leave
• £400/year for training
• Team Socials
• Free fruits and Snacks in the office
• Tax-Free Nursery Benefit after completing your probation

Diversity statement:

Sportable is a committed equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from disabled candidates, and those from minority ethnic backgrounds.