Job Description

About BPE Audio

BPE Audio is an acoustic consultancy and audio installation specialist delivering beautifully discreet, high?performance systems for bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels and premium residential spaces. We design and deliver systems that balance musicality, intelligibility and compliance often in heritage buildings and live trading venues using platforms such as Q?SYS, Dante/AES67, and premium loudspeaker lines (L?Acoustics, Martin Audio, Sonos Architectural). Many projects integrate PTZ cameras, conferencing, and control to create seamless guest and staff experiences.

The Role

We're hiring a Head of Engineering (also Solutions Architect) to lead our engineering function end?to?end while owning solution architecture for key bids and complex projects. You'll set technical standards, mentor engineers, and be the senior point of escalation from design through commissioning, documentation and handover. In pre?sales, you'll translate client outcomes into robust, value?engineered designs and clear proposals.

This is a hands?on leadership role: expect a blend of team leadership, design reviews, site presence for critical phases, and client?facing workshops.

What you'll do

Engineering Leadership & Delivery

Build and lead a high?performing engineering team; manage capacity, skills matrix and career paths. Define and maintain engineering standards: design templates, rack build standards, cable schedules, IP schemes, labelling, commissioning checklists, as?builts and O&M packs. Own technical governance: stage?gate reviews (Concept ? Design ? Build ? Commission ? Handover), snag control and quality audits. Drive safety and compliance across RAMS, CDM/CDM dutyholder coordination, permits, and site method statements. Triage technical risks and change; lead root?cause analysis and corrective actions.
Solutions Architecture (Pre?Sales)

Lead requirements capture workshops and site surveys; translate outcomes into solution designs and narratives. Produce/oversee schematics, loudspeaker layouts, network topologies, and control UI/UX; model coverage as needed (EASE). Architect Q?SYS DSP/control and Dante networks (QoS/VLANs/clocking), with secure remote management. Create clear scopes, BoMs and options; balance performance, aesthetics and budget; value?engineer without compromising reliability. Present solutions to non?technical stakeholders; support bids, RFP responses and programme plans with Sales/PM.
Commissioning & Technical Assurance

Set the standard for tuning and acceptance: Smaart measurement, alignment, gain structure and protection/limiters. Approve FAT/SAT protocols; sign off user training and handover documentation. Establish monitoring, logging and service handover procedures for warranty/SLAs. People, Vendors & Continuous Improvement Mentor engineers through code reviews, pair?commissioning and lunch?and?learns. Own the training roadmap and manufacturer certifications (Q?SYS, Dante, Smaart, etc.). Maintain vendor relationships; evaluate new products and produce internal design notes. Implement feedback loops from service tickets to design standards (design?for?support).

What you'll bring

Essential

7-12+ years in installed audio/AV with a track record delivering hospitality, leisure, retail or corporate venues. Expert knowledge of audio systems (loudspeaker selection, amplification, DSP, control, protection). Deep experience with Q?SYS design/programming and Dante/AES67 networked audio (L3 concepts, VLANs, QoS, PTP, multicast). Competence in IP networking for AV: subnets, routing basics, PoE budgets, DHCP/Static, firewall/ACL fundamentals, remote access. Fluency reading architectural/MEP drawings; able to produce/redline schematics and layouts (Visio/AutoCAD). Strong commissioning background (Smaart, alignment, SPL management) and documentation discipline. H&S leadership: RAMS ownership, contractor coordination, working at height best practice. Client?facing communication: translate technical detail into clear, outcome?based language. Full UK driving licence and UK work eligibility.

Nice to have

Certifications: Q?SYS L2+, Dante L3, Shure Integrated Systems. Tools: EASE, Smaart, AutoCAD/Revit/Visio, network analyzers (e.g., EtherScope). Experience in heritage/listed buildings; familiarity with UK noise guidance (e.g., BS 4142, BS 8233). Exposure to PTZ/NDI/UC integration; basic CCTV/IT interfacing. Tickets: CSCS/ECS, IPAF, PASMA, SSSTS/SMSTS, Asbestos Awareness. Basic electrical competence (safe isolation, test & terminate) and rack power design.
What success looks like

In 90 days: design standards and commissioning checklists in place; priority projects reviewed; team skills matrix published. In 6 months: backlog delivered on?time with improved margins; fewer snags and call?backs; repeatable Q?SYS/Dante patterns adopted; training plan in motion. In 12 months: engineering function running to agreed KPIs; recognised by clients for clarity, sound quality and reliability; stronger vendor terms through technical credibility.

KPIs (examples)

On?time delivery rate and variance to budget. First?time pass rate at commissioning/handover. Post?handover call?backs per project within 90 days. Documentation completeness score (design and O&M). Team certification progress and utilisation. Service tickets attributable to design (trend downwards).

How we work

Quality first: neat cable management, tidy racks, robust documentation, predictable user interfaces. Pragmatic and tidy: plan well, communicate clearly, keep venues trading. Growth mindset: funded certifications and opportunities to specialise.

What we offer

Competitive salary + performance bonus. Vehicle allowance or company van, fuel/expenses, tools, laptop, phone. 25 days holiday + UK bank holidays; pension scheme. Paid training & certifications (Q?SYS, Dante, Smaart, manufacturer courses). Flexible/hybrid working where project phases allow. A portfolio of distinctive venues and the freedom to set the bar for engineering excellence.

Schedule & travel

Monday-Friday with occasional evenings/weekends for cutovers.

Sites mainly in London & South East; occasional UK/European travel.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 85,000.00-100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company car Company pension
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Birmingham B3 3HN