Job Description

Technical Lead

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Bradford on Avon, United Kingdom

Reporting To: Head of Systems Engineering

Description

About AB Dynamics

AB Dynamics is one of the world’s leading specialists in automotive test systems, supplying a range of advanced solutions including driving robots, ADAS soft crash targets and driving simulators to all major vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers globally. The company's unique technology is used for many applications including the development of autonomous vehicles.

Role Overview

The Technical Lead is responsible for providing end-to-end technical leadership across the design, development, and delivery of integrated technologies and product solutions. Reporting to the Head of Systems Engineering, this role holds technical ownership for a defined segment of the AB Dynamics product portfolio, ensuring robust support and ongoing development. The role ensures that engineering activities align with strategic objectives, delivering high-quality, scalable products from concept through to production and throughout the product lifecycle.

Working closely with project management, discipline leads, and cross-functional teams, the Technical Lead drives technical excellence, manages engineering trade-offs, and ensures effective communication across stakeholders. The role also includes ownership of technical risk management, technology roadmap contribution, and ongoing lifecycle support to maintain product performance and customer satisfaction.

Core Responsibilities

Systems Design and Development

• Define and drive solution architectures, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and business objectives.
• Provide technical leadership across engineering teams, ensuring adherence to best practices, standards, and performance targets.
• Oversee system integration and ensure technical compatibility across all product components.

Product Solution Definition

• Collaborate with discipline leads to define and structure top-level work packages required to deliver product solutions.
• Ensure clear decomposition of product requirements into deliverable engineering tasks.
• Maintain technical oversight of solution scope and ensure alignment with overall product strategy.

Planning and Resource Management

• Support the Project Manager in developing and maintaining detailed Level 2 (L2) project plans.
• Work with discipline Heads of and the Engineering Director to Identify, allocate, and optimise resources to ensure efficient project execution.
• Manage product-level trade-offs, balancing cost, performance, quality, and schedule constraints.
• Ensure timely delivery of project milestones while maintaining high standards of engineering quality.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for the project.
• Ensure engineering teams are consistently informed of project updates, priorities, and changes.
• Chair technical reviews, design reviews, and key engineering meetings.
• Communicate technical solutions, decisions, and progress effectively to internal and external stakeholders.

Risk Management

• Identify technical and delivery risks early in the development cycle.
• Develop and implement mitigation strategies to minimise impact on timelines, quality, and performance.
• Monitor and manage risks throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring proactive resolution.

Technology Road mapping

• Contribute to the development and execution of technology roadmaps within the product category.
• Identify emerging technologies, innovation opportunities, and capability gaps.
• Ensure alignment between product development activities and long-term strategic goals.

Post-SOP product support

• Provide ongoing technical support following product launch, including customer and manufacturing assistance.
• Oversee the management of spares, accessories, and product lifecycle updates.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on field performance, customer feedback, and operational insights.

What are we looking for?

• Degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• Strong experience in systems engineering, product development, and technical leadership.
• Proven delivery of complex products from concept to production.
• Expertise in system architecture, integration, and managing technical trade-offs.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and stakeholder engagement.
• Knowledge of project planning, risk management, and product lifecycle support.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Experience contributing to technology roadmaps and continuous improvement, ideally within robotics, automation, or autonomous systems.

Why join us?

We are part of the AB Dynamics Group, an innovative, dynamic listed business with a friendly and supportive working environment. In addition to competitive salaries, our attractive benefits package includes:

• Discretionary bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases every 2 complete years up to a max of 32 days
• Up to 10% matched pension contributions, with option to salary exchange
• Private Medical Insurance – Family cover (Company funded benefit in kind)
• Life Assurance 6x salary
• Option to join Critical Illness Insurance, Dental Insurance and Health screening
• Income protection (Company funded)
• Enhanced parental leave
• EAP including mental, physical and financial wellbeing support
• Enhanced sick pay after 1 years’ service
• Volunteering days – up to 2 per year

At AB Dynamics Group we set ourselves ambitious objectives and strive to work according to our values of customers, people, diversity, innovation, excellence and responsibility. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We do not discriminate against staff based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We use AI to help us assess applications fairly and objectively.