Product Development Director

Head of Product Development
Location: High Wycombe (on-site)
Salary: £80,000 – £90,000 + benefits

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head of Product Development to lead the technological direction and team responsible for next-generation XRF and EDS detector products. This role combines hands-on scientific/engineering capability with strategic leadership, overseeing both new product innovation and enhancements to existing detector platforms.

The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary team, shaping the development roadmap, driving technical excellence and ensuring smooth delivery from concept through to production.

Key Responsibilities
Own and deliver the product development roadmap for X-ray detectors and associated technologies
Lead and mentor a cross-functional technical team (scientists, engineers, and process specialists)
Oversee the design, optimisation, testing and validation of new and existing detector products
Troubleshoot technical challenges relating to detector physics, performance and manufacturability
Align technical direction with wider business objectives and market opportunities
Collaborate with external partners and suppliers on component development and innovation
Ensure ISO-aligned development processes and maintain robust technical documentation

About You
~ MSc or PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science or related discipline
~10+ years’ experience in X-ray detector development, semiconductor physics or equivalent high-end sensing technology
~ Proven track record leading a technical/scientific team (5–10 engineers/scientists)
~ Demonstrable experience managing projects from R&D concept to commercial product
~ Strong analytical, problem-solving and technical communication skills
~ Knowledge of SDDs or semiconductor detector design, low-noise electronics, vacuum systems or cryogenic/Peltier cooling is highly advantageous

What This Role Offers
Significant influence over product strategy and technical direction
The opportunity to lead innovation in a specialist, high-technology field
A senior leadership role combining deep technical input with people development
Competitive salary of £80k–£90k plus benefits package