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R&D Manager Heat Pumps

Octopus Energy Group

Job Location:

Portadown - UK

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer

Posted: 28 August 2026 (7 days ago)

Application Deadline: 2 December 2026

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Octopus Centre for Heating Technology is the hardware division of the Octopus Energy Group one of the UKs leading energy suppliers. Based in Portadown we develop and manufacture the air source heat pumps and associated hardware that Octopus Energy installs in homes across the country.

Were changing the energy system globally spearheading the transition to greener cheaper energy through the installation of in-home technologies. Our team brings together deep technical expertise commercial focus and a drive to move from idea to real-world product quickly.

Were looking for an R&D Manager to lead the team responsible for developing our next generation of heat pump technology. This is a senior hands-on leadership role with ownership of the full development process - from initial design through testing compliance and productionisation. Youll set the technical direction for R&D manage a team of engineers and technicians and work closely with product commercial and manufacturing colleagues to bring new products to market.

What Youll Do:

Lead a team of engineers and technicians working on air source heat pumps and associated components across the full development lifecycle.
Define and maintain the technical roadmap for heat pump R&D balancing short-term delivery with longer-term product strategy.
Work closely with the platform firmware and design teams to ensure hardware development is well-integrated with wider product and system decisions.
Oversee the design testing and validation of heat pump hardware including refrigeration circuits controls heat exchangers and system integration.
Lead component selection across the product working with suppliers to evaluate and qualify parts that meet performance cost and reliability requirements.
Manage the lab and field testing programme drawing on data from real-world installations to inform product decisions.
Lead compliance testing to relevant standards (MCS CE/UKCA EN 14511 F-Gas ErP etc.) and manage relationships with test houses and certification bodies.
Specify commission and maintain test rigs and laboratory facilities to support the teams development and validation work.
Monitor residential heat pump market trends and emerging technologies using that knowledge to inform product direction and identify opportunities.
Identify and manage technical risk throughout the development process keeping projects on schedule in a demanding fast-paced environment.
Support the professional development of engineers and technicians within the team.

What Youll Need:

Essential:

A graduate or postgraduate qualification in engineering (mechanical electrical or a closely related discipline).
Proven experience managing an engineering team including project delivery workload planning and team development.
Substantial experience in heat pump HVAC or refrigeration product development with a strong working knowledge of thermodynamics system components and design tradeoffs.
A demonstrable track record of taking hardware products from concept through to market.
Strong systems-level thinking with the ability to work across mechanical electrical controls and software domains.
Experience working in a fast-paced development environment with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain delivery momentum.
Clear and effective communication skills including the ability to present technical information to non-technical audiences.

Desirable:

Experience with field-deployed products and using operational data to drive iterative improvement.
Familiarity with UK and EU regulatory requirements for heat pumps and low-carbon heating.
Background in design for manufacture particularly for volume consumer hardware.

Were very excited about this opportunity. Were looking for the passion skills and experience to help shape and define the future of energy and business at a global scale. If youre reading this and grinning and want to bring this technology to the market at scale and speed then we would love to hear from you.

Are you ready for a career with us We want to ensure you have all the tools and environment you need to unleash your potential.Need any specific accommodationsWhether you require specific accommodations or have a unique preference let us know and well do what we can to customise your interview process for comfort and maximum magic!

Studies have shown that some groups of people like women are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the job requirements. Whoever you are if you like one of our jobs we encourage you to apply as you might just be the candidate we hire. Across Octopus were looking for genuinely decent people who are honest and empathetic. Our people are our strongest asset and the unique skills and perspectives people bring to the team are the driving force of our success. As an equal opportunity employer we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute. Our commitment is to provide equal opportunities an inclusive work environment and fairness for everyone.

Where necessary we sometimes use AI tools to help with parts of our hiring process like reviewing applications or assessing lucky to receive a huge amount of interest so these tools help our recruiters manage that volume not replace them. Ultimately every hiring decision (for example whether to progress your application or not) is always made by a real person in our Talent youd like to know more about how we use your data you can reach out to us via email at emailprotected. Were happy to help!

Required Experience:

Manager

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About Company

Octopus Energy Group

Octopus customers pay less: Cheaper than price-cap prices, rewards for using less when the grid is stressed, and smart tariff savings for your home, car or battery

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