Job description
We are seeking a senior technology and engineering leader to serve as the operational second-in-command to the CTO. The role will help translate technology strategy into clear priorities, executable roadmaps and disciplined delivery across the technology organisation.
Your New Role
This is a hands-on executive leadership position for someone who can move confidently between technology strategy, product and platform development, engineering governance, organisational leadership and selected external partnerships.
The successful candidate will work closely with the CTO, technology leaders and other executive functions to strengthen portfolio governance, engineering execution, organisational capability and cross-functional alignment.
Your Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
- Translate technology strategy into platform roadmaps, development priorities and resource plans.
- Drive execution of the technology portfolio, ensuring focus on initiatives with the greatest strategic and commercial value.
- Strengthen engineering governance, technical decision rights, design reviews and risk management.
- Build leadership depth, clarify mandates and create an accountable, performance-oriented technology organisation.
- Represent Technology in cross-functional forums and selected external partnerships with customers, suppliers and industrial partners.
What We Are Looking For
The ideal candidate combines strong engineering judgement with commercial understanding and proven organisational leadership. Relevant experience may come from industrial technology, energy, engineering, advanced manufacturing or similar environments.
You bring with you:
- A relevant engineering or scientific degree; advanced technical or business education is considered an advantage.
- Experience leading product or platform development from concept through qualification and industrialisation.
- Strong understanding of systems engineering, testing, reliability, product cost and technology risk.
- Demonstrated ability to convert strategy into roadmaps, priorities, operating plans and measurable outcomes.
- Familiarity with best-practice project governance and development gate models, combined with a practical drive to refine frameworks, decision points and operating discipline for more effective execution.
- Credibility with senior technical specialists as well as executive stakeholders.
- Experience working across R&D, engineering, commercial, operations and supply-chain functions.
Direct hydrogen or electrolyser experience would be valuable but is not an absolute requirement.
Leadership style
We are looking for a strategic but practical leader who is direct, fact-based and decisive; able to challenge constructively, influence across functions and strengthen a culture of accountability, performance and continuous improvement.
What You Will Get From Working With Us
- An opportunity to work in a company in a leading position in the hydrogen and clean energy market.
- A visible and impactful role with many exciting interfaces across teams and stakeholders, both locally and globally.
- A dynamic and highly professional working environment consisting of competent and committed colleagues.
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, pension and insurance schemes.
The Company has a published Code of Conduct that all employees are expected to follow.
Pay & benefits
About this role
About Nel Hydrogen
Company Overview
Nel Hydrogen, officially Nel ASA
HeadquartersOslo, Norway
Founded1927
SizeApproximately 1,000 employees (source: linkedin.com). Revenue figures for 2023 are not detailed in available sources.
What They Do
Nel Hydrogen focuses exclusively on hydrogen technology, specializing in both PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) and alkaline electrolysers that produce renewable hydrogen from water using electricity, primarily sourced from renewable energy. Their product lineup includes the S Series PEM electrolysers, which can generate up to 1.05 Nm³/h of hydrogen with a purity of 99.9995%, suitable for various industrial applications. Larger units can produce up to 30 Nm³/h at even higher purity levels, designed for low maintenance and compact installations that require deionized water and power ranging from hundreds of watts to over 1 MW (source: nelhydrogen.com). In addition to manufacturing electrolysers, Nel provides engineering services, technical support, and water deionization systems, facilitating on-demand hydrogen production that reduces costs, storage needs, and emissions across sectors such as transportation, refining, steel, ammonia, and energy storage (source: nelhydrogen.com). Their target markets encompass industrial applications, maritime, heavy transport, and power-to-gas solutions, with a diverse customer base that includes fertilizer producers, refineries, and renewable energy developers (source: ammoniaenergy.org). Nel's competitive edge lies in its 98-year legacy of technological innovation, its global scale with a 1 GW annual alkaline production capacity at Herøya, and its readiness for multi-GW deployments, positioning it favorably against competitors in the hydrogen sector (source: nelhydrogen.com).
Projects & Track Record
Nel Hydrogen has a rich history of notable projects, including the supply of 20 MW PEM electrolysers to Fertiberia's renewable ammonia facility in Puertollano, Spain, which recently opened. They also established the world's first public hydrogen fueling station in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2003, showcasing their pioneering role in hydrogen infrastructure. Additionally, Nel has provided Glencore Nickelverk with a second electrolyser at Kristiansand, Norway, for on-site hydrogen production (source: ammoniaenergy.org). Historically, their track record includes the Rjukan plant, operational since 1940 with a capacity exceeding 30,000 Nm³/h, and the Glomfjord plant established in 1953. They have also delivered 448 electrolysers and fueling equipment to Nikola Motor Company to support U.S. infrastructure, alongside a 5 MW prototype developed with Yara at Porsgrunn for ammonia production by 2022 (source: bccresearch.com). Ongoing major projects include over 1 GW of alkaline electrolysers for Hy Stor Energy's Mississippi hydrogen hub and technology licensing agreements with Reliance Industries for manufacturing in India, further solidifying Nel's position in the global hydrogen market (source: nelhydrogen.com).
Recent Developments
In the past two years, Nel Hydrogen has undergone significant transformations, including the spin-off of its Fueling division as Cavendish Hydrogen on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2024, allowing the company to refocus on its core electrolyser business (source: bccresearch.com). They have made a final investment decision to industrialize next-generation pressurized alkaline technology after extensive development and testing, operationalizing the Herøya Line 2 to achieve a total capacity of 1 GW. Furthermore, Nel announced plans for four new coastal plants in Norway aimed at supporting maritime and industrial hydrogen production (source: nelhydrogen.com). Major contracts secured include technology provision for GreenH's Enova-supported projects in Kristiansund and Slagentangen, with a minimum capacity of 10 MW each, and a PEM order from HyFuel and Kaupanes exceeding USD 50 million (source: prnewswire.com). Other milestones include the PosHYdon offshore hydrogen demonstration project and integration with Solar Foods, highlighting Nel's commitment to advancing hydrogen technology (source: nelhydrogen.com).
Working There
Nel Hydrogen offers a variety of roles across engineering, manufacturing, research and development, sales, and project management. Key departments include Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser, which oversees operations in Notodden, and the legacy Fueling division, which was based in Herning, Denmark, prior to the 2024 spin-off (source: nelhydrogen.com). Active hiring is likely concentrated at the Oslo headquarters, the Herøya factory, and Notodden, especially with the ramp-up of the new 1 GW capacity and ongoing projects like GreenH and Hy Stor (source: prnewswire.com). The company emphasizes technology development, as evidenced by the appointment of CTO Andreas Søreng, who brings extensive experience from the renewable energy sector (source: nelhydrogen.com). Nel's culture is characterized by a 98-year legacy of innovation and a commitment to global teamwork on multi-GW orders, with CEO Håkon Volldal promoting a focus on research and development to enhance efficiency and learn from challenges (source: nelhydrogen.com). While specific benefits are not detailed, as an Oslo-listed firm, Nel is expected to offer competitive compensation packages typical for technology manufacturing companies (source: prnewswire.com).
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