Head of Product Development & New Product Introduction
ALICS is an innovative UK university spin-out developing next-generation technology for the inspection, measurement and continuous monitoring of cracks and defects in concrete critical infrastructure.
Our technology combines advanced optical sensing, AI, computer vision and cloud-based SaaS to deliver accurate, objective and repeatable information about structural condition.
We are now moving from technology development into commercialisation and scale-up.
We are looking for an exceptional Head of Product Engineering & New Product Introduction to take ownership of the journey from Technology → Prototype → Product → Manufacture → Market → Scale
This is not a conventional Product Manager role.
It is a senior, hands-on opportunity combining product engineering, product management, NPI, technology development and commercialisation.
For the right individual, there may be a clear pathway towards CTO as ALICS grows.
The Role
Working directly with the founders, you will lead the transition of ALICS’ technology into robust, scalable and commercially successful products.
You will own the product development lifecycle and bring together engineering, AI, software, manufacturing and commercial teams.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Owning the product strategy and roadmap.
- Translating customer requirements into product specifications.
- Leading hardware and software product development.
- Integrating AI, computer vision, communication and optical sensing technologies.
- Taking prototypes through testing, validation and productisation.
- Leading New Product Introduction (NPI).
- Developing design-for-manufacture processes.
- Establishing supplier and manufacturing relationships.
- Managing product validation, certification and documentation.
- Supporting customer pilots and early deployments.
- Driving continuous product improvement.
- Working closely with the SaaS team to integrate physical products with the digital platform.
- Supporting product launch, pricing and commercialisation.
A key part of the role will be establishing the engineering and product discipline required to move ALICS from an advanced technology demonstrator into a scalable commercial product company.
You will help build the processes required to take products through:
Prototype → Validation → Productisation → NPI → Manufacture → Deployment → Scale
You will need to be comfortable making decisions in an environment where technology, customer requirements and commercial priorities are constantly evolving.
Working Across Deep Technology
ALICS operates at the intersection of several technologies, including:
- AI and machine learning
- Computer vision
- Optical/light-based sensing
- Sensors and data acquisition
- Embedded and connected hardware
- Cloud software
- SaaS
- Data analytics
- Infrastructure condition monitoring
You do not need to be a technical expert in every discipline.
However, you must be technically capable enough to understand complex technology, challenge decisions, identify risks and bring multidisciplinary teams together.
Customer & Commercialisation
This role has significant customer and commercial responsibility.
You will work directly with infrastructure owners, engineering organisations and other industry stakeholders to understand their problems and translate them into products that customers will buy and deploy.
You will:
- Lead customer discovery and product definition.
- Support trials, pilots and early deployments.
- Develop product propositions and use cases.
- Contribute to pricing and commercial strategy.
- Monitor competitors and market opportunities.
- Identify new applications and future product opportunities.
- Ensure product development remains focused on commercially valuable outcomes.
You may currently be a:
Senior Product Manager | Technical Product Manager | Product Engineering Manager | NPI Manager | Engineering Manager | Product Development Manager | Technology Lead | Hardware/Software Product Lead
You will ideally have experience in one or more of:
- AI / machine learning
- Computer vision
- Sensors / measurement technology
- IoT / connected devices
- Structural monitoring
- Hardware / software products
- SaaS
- New Product Introduction
Experience taking products from prototype through NPI and into commercial manufacture would be particularly valuable.
We are looking for someone who combines technical capability, product thinking and entrepreneurial drive.
You will be:
- Technically curious and commercially minded.
- Customer focused.
- Hands-on and pragmatic team player
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity.
- Highly organised and analytical.
- Able to communicate with engineers and customers at the appropriate level.
- Confident challenging technical and commercial decisions.
- Comfortable working directly with founders.
- Able to build relationships across engineering, AI, software, manufacturing and commercial teams.
- Flexible and ambitious enough to help build the organisation as well as the product.
- Bachelor’s degree in, engineering, technology, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certifications are beneficial.
Most importantly, you will want to build something rather than simply manage something that already exists.
This role offers the potential to become a key technology leader within ALICS.
As the company scales, the successful candidate could progress towards Chief Technology Officer, with responsibility for building and leading the wider technology organisation across:
Product Engineering | Hardware | Software | AI | NPI | Technology Strategy
Equity/share options will form part of the package for the appropriate candidate.
This is a rare opportunity to join ALICS at a pivotal point in its development.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Help commercialise proprietary technology.
- Work at the intersection of AI, optical sensing and infrastructure.
- Take products from advanced prototype into global markets.
- Shape the product and technology strategy.
- Build the product engineering and NPI capability.
- Work directly with the founders.
- Help develop technology with applications across major global infrastructure markets.
- Potentially grow into the company’s CTO.
Infrastructure owners around the world spend billions inspecting and maintaining ageing concrete assets. ALICS is developing technology designed to provide a fundamentally better way of identifying and measuring cracks and monitoring crack growth in critical areas. Our aim is to be a leading global player within 3-5 years.
We are looking for someone who wants to play a central role in making that happen.
If you have the technical capability, commercial instinct and ambition to take breakthrough technology from prototype to global product, we’d like to hear from you.
Please submit your CV together with a short explanation of:
Why ALICS? Why this role? And what have you previously taken from prototype or concept through to a successful commercial product?
ALICS is an equal opportunities employer.