Rowden
Business Line Lead (General Manager) - Sensing & Communications
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Business Line Lead (General Manager) – Sensing & Communications
Department: Management Employment Type: Permanent – Full Time Location: Bristol, UK Reporting To: Ellie Steers
About Rowden
We’re building the UK's next-generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience.
We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied. Our focus is on:
- Accelerating technology deployment
- Improving decision-making for frontline teams
- Protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments
Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 160 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe’s fastest-growing engineering businesses.
The Role
Rowden is looking for a Business Line Lead to take ownership of the Sensing & Comms business line as it transitions from early traction into structured growth.
Why This Matters
Sensing & Comms is one of Rowden’s three business lines. It already has:
- A deployed product in market
- Booked revenue and a growing pipeline
- A first-generation product being sold today, with a second-generation version near release.
The next step is to scale this validation into a repeatable revenue engine across the UK, Europe, North America, and other aligned markets.
This is a commercial, operational, and strategic leadership role. You will:
- Own revenue growth, delivery performance, financial control, and strategic direction
- Work across sales, product, engineering, manufacturing, legal, commercial, finance, and operations
- Build the systems required for scaling
Who We’re Looking For
A proven leader comfortable with technical products moving from early traction into growth who wants direct ownership of that transition. Ideal candidates are:
- Commercially sharp, technically fluent, and operationally disciplined
- Capable of leading through ambiguity and translating customer demand into actionable strategies
About the Role
Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance. A security clearance guide.
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Key Areas of Responsibility
1. Business Line Growth
- Own the growth plan for Sensing & Comms, including:
- Pipeline management
- Routes-to-market strategy
- Partner strategy
- Market expansion
- Transition from smaller early orders to larger, more substantial programmes
- Build on existing traction across the UK, Europe, and Canada, while developing US pipeline momentum
- Develop direct and channel sales strategies, including:
- Partner networks
- Reseller relationships
- Customer engagement frameworks
2. Commercial & Operational Leadership
- Execute as a disciplined general manager, balancing:
- Revenue growth vs. delivery performance
- Margin protection vs. cash flow management
- Investment decisions
- Establish a robust operating rhythm for:
- Forecasting & financing
- Risk management
- Deal tracking & pipeline visibility
- Ensure commercial commitment realism, informed by:
- Product, engineering, supply chain, and operations teams
- Deliver informed decisions on:
- Stock levels
- Manufacturing cycles
- Delivery commitments
3. Product & Market Direction
- Translate customer demand and market insights into product roadmap inputs
- Define future direction for:
- Current & adjacent Sensing & Comms products
- Investment priorities
- Navigate complex, regulated, and export-controlled markets
4. Cross-Functional Leadership
- Lead through influence across non-directly-reporting teams
- Collaborate with CEO, COO, CRO, VP Engineering, VP Finance, VP Product, Legal, Commercial, Operations, and other business line leads
- Build team foundations, including:
- Future sales leadership
- Engineering team expansion
- Represent Rowden in external conversations with:
- Customers
- Partners
- Resellers
- Senior stakeholders
Success Looks Like This (Within 12–18 Months)
✅ Pipeline Development
- Qualified & credible pipeline across priority markets, with clear stakeholders, use cases, procurement routes, and award pathways
✅ Sales Expansion
- Converted early traction into larger deals in UK, European, and North American markets
✅ Product Commercialisation
- Successfully launched and commercialised second-generation product
✅ US Early Traction
- Established ready-to-award pipeline and early sales progress in the US
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✅ Operational and Financial Rigour
- Improved forecasting, decision-making, and commercial visibility via disciplined operating processes
- Optimised stock, supply chain, and manufacturing risk for Rowden
✅ Market & Product Reflection
- Embedded structured customer insights into the Sensing & Comms roadmap.
Key Skills, Experience, and Behaviours
We’re looking for someone with:
- Strong commercial experience (sales target ownership, deal progression)
- Technical fluency (preferably in hardware, engineering, defence, communications, RF, or adjacent industries)
- Scaling experience in product-led businesses beyond early-stage traction
- Credibility in senior customer and commercial engagements
- Understanding of hardware product realities (supply chain, manufacturing, validation, stock risk)
- Experience operating in regulated or export-controlled environments (defence, government markets preferred)
- Ability to bridge technical execution and commercial outcomes
- Track record of building structure without stifling momentum
- Cross-functional leadership without relying solely on formal authority
Bonus – But Not Strictly Required
- An RF/CEMA/EW background (sensors, electronic warfare, or comms-related markets)
About You
You should:
- Be competitive, commercially focused, and action-driven (own your targets)
- Be a builder, not just a manager**
- Be comfortable with ambiguity, limited information, and fast-paced decision-making
- Operate decisively in defence, export, and hardware-sensitive markets
- Be customer-facing (hands-on, present externally, travel as required)
- Commit to a minimum of 3 days per week in Bristol HQ (excluding travel)
Working at Rowden
At Rowden, we foster a flexible, inclusive, and empowering culture. We encourage:
- Diversity of backgrounds and talents
- Flexible & hybrid working (typically 3 days in-office)
- Part-time, adjusted-work arrangements upon reasonable request
We are a Disability Confident Committed company and welcome applications from individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Need adjustments? Let us know early to support a smooth process.
Note: If you don’t meet all criteria but have transferable skills, we’d love to hear from you!
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