Head of R&D - Sensing Science

Head of R&D - Sensing Science Location: Dagenham, Essex (2-3 days onsite) Salary: £80,000-£90,000 + benefits Type: Permanent An innovative, venture-backed technology company developing next-generation intelligence and sensing systems is seeking a Head of R&D to lead its sensing strategy and scientific function. Having recently secured oversubscribed seed funding and with commercial products already in market, the business is scaling rapidly across applications including pest control, agriculture, animal health, environmental monitoring and future public health solutions. The Opportunity This is a senior technical leadership role for an expert in sensing technologies who can bridge the gap between scientific research, product development and data-driven decision making. You'll work closely with engineering, firmware, software and data science teams to define how sensors are selected, tested, integrated and optimised within commercial products. Key Responsibilities Lead the company's sensing science and R&D strategy Manage and mentor multidisciplinary scientific teams Define experimental design and testing methodologies Guide sensor selection and performance evaluation Collaborate with engineering teams on sensor integration Work with data scientists to improve sensor interpretation and ML models Support the development of new sensing products and applications Influence future technical direction and team growthAbout You We're looking for a scientifically credible leader with deep expertise in sensing technologies and experience translating research into real-world products. Relevant backgrounds may include: Gas, chemical or VOC sensing Sensor fusion and embedded sensing systems Analytical chemistry or chemical ecology Machine learning for sensor systems Scientific R&D leadershipExperience working with multidisciplinary engineering teams and commercialising sensing technologies is highly desirable. The company is open to candidates from industry, research organisations or academia who combine scientific depth with practical product thinking. Why Join? Shape a unique sensing and AI technology platform Work on cutting-edge sensor and machine learning applications Join a well-funded business with commercial traction Influence company strategy and future product development Contribute to technologies with significant long-term impact across multiple industries