Job Description

HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited (HiDef) is known for its market leading, innovative digital aerial surveys, which have been deployed in ten countries. We are expanding across all of our services, combining technical and scientific excellence and it is crucial to the company that we continue to lead in the innovation of new products based upon credible science and deliver all of our services in a consistent and efficient manner. We work on a range of projects ranging from our digital aerial surveys, ornithological and marine mammal statistical analysis and research and development projects in fields such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, often with our sister company BioConsult SH in Germany, Biotope in France, other partners, and domain experts.

Our Vision

: to provide trusted, high quality environmental data, analysis, and consultancy to support decision-making for the renewables industry and conservation.

Our Mission:

to be a leading marine environmental consultancy for the global offshore renewables industry.

Our Values

: our shared values -

Innovative, Supportive,

and

Honest

, sit at the heart of our company culture and impact everything we do.


Quality lies at the heart of HiDef's services and we are looking to recruit a Senior Engineer join our Technical Services team. This position within the company offers significant opportunities for the right person who will be enthusiastic, methodical, diligent, an excellent team player with effective communication skills and a willingness to learn.

Location:

this role is based at HiDef's Head Office in Lillyhall, Cumbria. Occasional travel including outside of the UK may also be required.

The

Role:

To successfully and reliably provide and maintain the Company's assets in first class condition and appearance, ensuring the provision of reliable operational assets and personnel to meet the Company's contractual commitments effectively and efficiently within agreed budgets.


The role will involve tactical management of resources, team development, and driving continuous improvement across engineering operations. This position is key to professionalising the engineering function, improving uptime, reducing downtime, and leading technical asset developments for the Company.


The role requires safety and reliability to be held as the fundamental principles of discharging responsibilities. The role requires that safety and reliability be diligently applied to equipment selection, deployment, operation, and maintenance.


This supervisory role is important to the business. The successful incumbent will be offered professional development opportunities to enhance skills, knowledge, and competency to enable future progression within the Engineering department



The role will include, but not be limited to:




To maximise asset availability and minimize asset downtime; To ensure assets are provided, delivered, and maintained on a minimum cost basis; To ensure feedback of lessons learned and incorporation into Company systems; To promote the culture of "right first time," no errors, accidents, or incidents, on time and on budget; Coordinating and managing the day-to-day workload of Engineering Technicians to ensure that tasks are completed, fostering a culture of safety, quality, efficiency, and best practice; Ensuring that all engineering activities adhere to the highest health and safety standards and are compliant with industry regulations and HiDef's internal protocols; Liaising with the Flight Operations team leaders and coordinating Engineering team logistics and maintenance of rigs and survey equipment; Rig maintenance - liaising with Flight Operations on flight requirements to enable servicing schedules to take place. Understanding maintenance procedures, directing engineers to deliver a first-class service at the right time in the right place; Managing the procurement process for engineering components, including working closely with suppliers to ensure timely deliveries, quality standards, and cost-effective solutions; Leading the training and continuous development of junior engineering staff through mentoring, training, and performance management to ensure a highly skilled, motivated, and professional team; Being responsible for reviewing, maintaining, and developing equipment department systems, processes and procedures including asset tracking, stock management, maintenance records, engineering drawings etc.; Taking full responsibility for the management and optimisation of HiDef's engineering assets, including developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for equipment reliability, Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and downtime minimization; Conducting root cause analysis to investigate failures and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence, ensuring all equipment operates at peak efficiency; Collaborating with the Innovation team to design and implement cutting-edge equipment modifications and new product developments that align with HiDef's technical and operational objectives; Advising on and implementing the development and upgrading of the equipment to improve performance and efficiency; Liaising with external contractors, working on behalf of HiDef and parent company BioConsult, to help with the implementation of Equipment Modification Authorisation (EMA's) and rig improvements; Supporting the Associate Director - Operations & QHSE with problem solving activities and investigations to support the delivery of efficiencies and a culture of continuous improvement; Providing engineering support and guidance to aid and inform the Business Development, Commercial and Project teams; Providing regular communication on high level engineering matters and providing information for collaborative board reporting; and Any other responsibilities as the Company may see fit.

The successful candidate will need:

Qualifications

Educated and experienced in either an electrical or multiskilled engineering discipline.

Skills & Knowledge

In-depth knowledge of electrical systems, rigging, and equipment installation techniques; Strong understanding of asset management and maintenance scheduling systems; The ability to foster close working relationships with departments business wide, ensuring seamless communication across departments and the successful delivery of engineering projects; Advanced problem-solving skills, particularly in the context of technical failures and operational disruptions; Ability to organise, coordinate, and prioritise workloads, over multiple projects, to ensure key deliverables are met; Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently, working under minimal supervision and managing own time, and that of direct reports, efficiently; Good knowledge of health & safety; Basic knowledge of project management; Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels and with a variety of stakeholders; Proficiency in CAD or other design software (e.g., Onshape, solidworks) for equipment design and modification; Proficient in general computer skills and the MS Office suite; and Passionate about technology.

Experience



Experience of working or evidence of capability of working in a Lead /Senior role; Experience in leading complex technical projects, including the design, installation, and maintenance of specialised equipment; Experience in managing and developing engineering teams and fostering a high-performance culture; Demonstrated ability to deliver continuous improvement in engineering operations; and Experience in delivering robust documented processes in line with continuous improvement.

Benefits / Remuneration:

Salary, starting from circa 48,000 p.a. Competitive, discretionary profit share scheme. Full-time, permanent position. Working hours are based on Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00. 33 days annual leave per annum, including public holidays. 4% company pension contribution. Private medical and dental care scheme. MediCash scheme. Group Life Assurance. Company sick pay allowance. Salary sacrifice scheme including Pension Salary Exchange, Cycle to Work scheme, and help towards the purchase of ultra-low emission vehicles.

How to Apply:

Use the 'Apply here!' button to make your application.

Closing date: Friday 8th August 2025, 10am.

HiDef is proud to be an inclusive company, and people are at the heart to how we deliver our services. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or belief.