Head of Engineering

We’re hiring a Head of Engineering at Kids Operating Room.

This is not a typical engineering role.

You’ll help design and deliver operating theatres in some of the most challenging environments in the world - where power is unreliable, oxygen is scarce, and the difference between success and failure is measured in lives.

From solar-powered surgery systems to modular hospitals, you’ll lead engineering that directly enables safe surgery for children globally.

If you’re an engineer who wants to apply your skills to something that truly matters—this is it.

Kids Operating Room is a global health charity transforming surgical care for children in low-resource settings. To date, we have delivered 130+ operating theatres across 35+ countries, helping to build safe, sustainable surgical systems where they are needed most.

Our work sits at the intersection of engineering, clinical care, and innovation - including the development of pioneering solutions such as our solar surgery system, designed to deliver uninterrupted power in environments where grid reliability cannot be guaranteed.

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Engineering to lead the development and delivery of innovative engineering solutions that enable safe surgery for children in low-resource settings.

This is a hands-on leadership role, combining strategic oversight with practical deployment. You will lead a multidisciplinary engineering function spanning biomedical, electrical, and infrastructure systems - designing solutions that work reliably in some of the most challenging environments in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of innovative power, ventilation, and infrastructure solutions for operating theatres in low-resource settings
• Manage and grow a team of biomedical engineers responsible for the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of medical equipment globally
• Drive research, testing, and deployment of oxygen solutions, including generation, storage, and delivery systems suitable for constrained environments
• Take a hands-on role in the deployment of modular and containerised healthcare facilities, ensuring full integration with local infrastructure and successful technical sign-off
• Oversee the design and implementation of solar-powered systems, including UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and IPS (Isolated Power Systems), across both existing hospitals and new builds
• Ensure all engineering solutions are fit-for-purpose, resilient, and maintainable locally, with a strong focus on sustainability and reliability
• Provide technical leadership across projects, including coordination of structural, mechanical, and electrical systems
• Operate effectively in low-resource and high-risk environments, supporting in-country teams and partners
• Identify emerging challenges and proactively develop practical, scalable engineering solutions
• Contribute to the organisation’s mission by translating engineering innovation into measurable impact - more safe surgeries for children

Essential Requirements

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant engineering discipline
• Proven experience leading and managing engineering teams
• Strong experience in electrical systems (generation, distribution, or similar)
• Demonstrated ability to develop practical, innovative solutions in constrained environments
• Hands-on experience installing, commissioning, or troubleshooting technical systems
• Comfortable working internationally, including in low-resource and high-risk settings
• Self-motivated with the ability to identify problems and take ownership of solutions
• Strong alignment with Kids Operating Room’s mission and values

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with medical facilities, operating theatres, or biomedical equipment
• Experience in low-resource, humanitarian, or global health contexts
• Knowledge of solar energy systems, battery storage, and hybrid power solutions
• Experience across mechanical and building services systems
• Understanding of oxygen systems or medical gas infrastructure
• Experience with modular or prefabricated buildings

This role would suit someone who:

• Is equally comfortable on-site in a hospital in a low-resource setting as they are shaping engineering strategy
• Thrives in ambiguity and can engineer solutions where standards and infrastructure may not exist
• Wants to apply their expertise to real-world impact - where engineering directly saves lives
• Brings energy, curiosity, and a drive to push boundaries in global health engineering

At Kids operating Room, engineering is not theoretical - it is the difference between a child receiving safe surgery or not.

You will play a central role in delivering scalable, resilient surgical infrastructure across the world -helping transform access to care for children who need it most.

Pay: £60,000.00-£70,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Dundee DD2 1DX