Office Jobs Birmingham – Chief Engineer and Technical Lead

Overview

Position Title: Chief Engineer and Technical Lead

Company: UK Home Office

Location: Birmingham,UK

Job Description

This role owns the overall technical authority on the ESN programme, with accountability for the technical integrity of the entire solution. It reports directly to the Programme Director and will be a member of the programme executive leadership team. This role has responsibility for the creation, development, optimisation and maintenance of the end to end design of the ESN network. This will involve leadership of a complex ecosystem of bespoke supplier designs, commercial off the shelf (COTS) equipment and in-house developed designs. You will engage with stakeholders and users up to senior levels to build confidence in ESN as the trusted platform for Emergency Services’ communication. You will represent the programme in external forums including taking a leading role in the emerging standards for long term evolution (LTE) Mission Critical Communications.

You will lead a team comprising of Civil Servants, Emergency Services personnel, contractors and consultants. This team will cover a wide variety of technical disciplines: software development, solution integration, radio planning, coverage, and device specification and development. You will need to coordinate and integrate these diverse disciplines and skills to create an integrated solution that works. Creating an inclusive environment where everyone can give of their best will be a crucial success factor.
You will need to work with the Emergency Services, and others, to show that the end-to-end solution will meet their operational, performance, safety and security requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Ensuring that the Authority-delivered elements of ESN (Extended Area Services, Air to Ground and London Underground Services) conform to the developing ESN technical architecture
• Ensuring that components of the ESN technical architecture can be partitioned using open standards, and therefore can be effectively re-competed at the end of the contract terms
• Assuring the required ESN functionality, security, availability and performance has been delivered, and to build user confidence using testing, operational trials, and regional pilots
• Assuring the service management systems (including network management, user account management and user billing) are suitable to support users’ needs
• Engaging with international counterparts to share learning and to collaborate to jointly influence standards, suppliers and technology development
• Working with suppliers to ensure that there is a cost effective and flexible testing service available for ESN devices, accessories and applications to enable a vibrant and competitive marketplace
• Approving technical contract changes proposed by the project teams during the implementation of ESN, its end-to-end services and planned in-service upgrades to capability
• The escalation prioritisation and resolution of defects found during technical testing, user testing, operational evaluation and live service and ensuring that the status of products/releases are accurately communicated at a senior level
• Assuring the User-facing elements of ESN (devices, vehicle conversion and control room upgrades) and ensuring that they are integrated into the overall technical architecture

Requirements:

• A proven track record of seeking out opportunities for innovation and driving and delivering a culture that emphasises continuous improvement, efficiency and value for money
• Proven ability to lead the technical community in a large technology programme. Evidence of leading a technical community that consists of direct and indirect reports, and ensuring that component parts of the solution are developed in line with the overall architecture.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and an ability to build stakeholder relations and grow confidence through the design reviews, testing, trials and pilot events by providing reassurance and resolutions where necessary
• Deep technical knowledge of the mobile communications sector and related standards; innovations in architecture and services in this field; and standards and assurance methods of security architecture.
• An experienced leader who can establish an effective structure to integrate multiple projects to produce a successful and resilient end to end solution that stands up to scrutiny from a diverse range of stakeholders
• Knowledge and experience of the planning and delivery of systems and products through full lifecycle; requirements capture and analysis, design, development, test and integration, roll out and deployment, and service transition.
• Strong experience in Design Authority and DA Governance disciplines in particular.
• Chartered Engineer or equivalent technical professional status.