Director of Engineering

Overview

Brand New Role:
Director of Engineering

We are very pleased to be able to present to the market what is arguably the best senior level Engineering Director role (Geo) in the British Isles at the moment. This is a brand new position, the first-in of what will become our clients joint largest and most important function globally.

The Director of Engineering will be responsible for the strategic leadership, development, and delivery of seabed drilling equipment and geotechnical tools which directly support offshore site investigation operations, all around the world. The role has full accountability for engineering activities across a growing fleet of vessels, ROVs and seabed drill and tooling systems, ensuring equipment is safe, reliable, scalable, and operationally effective.

The position leads engineering across tool and system development, an in-house R&D facility, and operational deployment, driving innovation and continuous improvement as the business expands its offshore, nearshore & onshore capabilities.

Engineering Leadership & Strategy

• This profile will define and execute the engineering strategy for seabed drilling systems, trenching tools, and associated handling equipment, aligned with the businesses growth plans
• You will provide technical leadership across a growing fleet of vessels, seabed drills, and geotechnical equipment
• The role will lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team across design, R&D, and operational support functions
• The Director will establish engineering governance, design standards, and lifecycle management processes

Seabed Drill, Equipment & Tool Development

Oversee the design, development, and qualification of:

• Seabed geotechnical drilling systems
• Downhole and seabed-deployed tools (samplers, corers, in-situ testing systems)
• Launch, recovery, and handling systems for vessel deployment
• Own the technology roadmap for seabed drilling and tooling, supporting deeper water, improved data quality, and operational efficiency
• Drive innovation through the company’s R&D facility, from early-stage concepts and prototyping through to offshore trials
• Ensure equipment designs are optimised for harsh offshore environments, vessel integration, maintainability, and reliability

R&D Facility Oversight

• Provide leadership and direction to the in-house R&D and test facility, ensuring alignment with operational and commercial priorities
• Oversee prototype testing, qualification programs, and controlled trials prior to offshore deployment
• Promote a structured yet agile approach to innovation, balancing experimentation with operational reliability

Vessel & Offshore Operations Interface

• Work closely with vessel teams and offshore operations to ensure seamless integration of seabed drills and equipment with vessels
• Support mobilisations, offshore trials, and technical troubleshooting as required
• Ensure lessons learned from offshore operations are captured and fed back into design improvements
• Act as senior technical authority during offshore incidents or equipment failures.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure engineering designs and activities comply with offshore regulations, industry standards, and client requirements
• Champion a safety-by-design and operability-focused engineering culture
• Provide engineering leadership for HAZIDs, HAZOPs, design reviews, and technical risk assessments

Supply Chain, Manufacturing & Fleet Growth

• Manage relationships with external manufacturers, fabricators, and specialist suppliers
• Oversee fabrication, assembly, FAT/SAT, and acceptance of new equipment for the expanding fleet
• Support fleet standardization while enabling flexibility for R&D and future technology upgrades
• Develop spares strategies and technical documentation to support multiple vessels and systems

Budget, Commercial & Growth Support

• Own the engineering budget covering R&D, new equipment development, and fleet support
• Provide technical input to tenders, proposals, and client engagement, particularly around seabed drilling capability
• Support CAPEX planning for new vessels, seabed drills, and next-generation tools

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
• Senior engineering leadership experience within offshore drilling, geotechnical, subsea, or offshore construction environments
• Proven experience developing seabed or subsea-deployed drilling and tooling systems
• Strong understanding of vessel-based operations and offshore equipment integration
• Track record of leading engineering teams and complex development programs
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
• Experience with seabed drilling, CPT, seabed sampling, or in-situ testing systems
• Experience leading R&D programs or test facilities for similar tooling and trenching equipment
• Familiarity with classification societies, offshore certification, and client acceptance processes
• Strategic engineering leadership
• Seabed drilling and offshore equipment expertise
• Innovation and R&D management
• Risk-based design and…