Skip to content 
Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting with a remarkable team who successfully brought a robotic system to market. Our journey together began with a Horizon-funded research project and culminated in a fully commercialised, industry-defining product. Ironically, their success led to their acquisition by a US investor—and sadly, the team was disbanded.
The Head of Engineering, someone I’ve worked with for more than 20 years, invited me in to support the team with outplacement—helping them prepare their CV’s, explore career options and advising them how to navigate the job market. Having recruited many of them myself, it felt more like a wake than a workshop. That’s how much this project meant to everyone involved.
The group was a diverse mix—some had been there since the proof-of-concept stage, others had driven major upgrades and innovations. Many were now facing an unfamiliar job market, and several remarked on how vague and impersonal job descriptions have become.
Because they’d been working in “real time” for so long, few had taken the time to reflect on their achievements—let alone articulate them on a CV. We began with CV writing, focusing on the team’s extraordinary accomplishments. Their investment in the product, their shared vision, and their synergy were what propelled it to market.
I’ve been in recruitment for more than 25 years, and I learned more in those six hours than I have in some years. This team is nothing short of genius. We went from a sense of loss to realising we had a group of expert, experienced engineers with a proven track record of taking a blank-sheet concept through to commercial success.
What does this tell us about building successful start-ups?
Here’s what I took away—and what I believe every start-up should embed from day one:
Have a clear market reason – This team addressed a well-defined market need, saving heavy industry £1.2 million per month on a single application. Investment followed all the way through to operational release and commercial success.
Set clear objectives – Many start-ups fail by endlessly iterating instead of delivering a viable V1. This team launched early, then built in flexibility and features for future versions—generating revenue from the outset.
Strong leadership – A manager who can visualise the framework, process, and structure for success is essential.
Engineering with scale in mind – From day one, they designed with scaled manufacturing in mind, not just prototypes.
Build a blended, solutions-driven team – No silos. Total synergy across mechanical, software, electronics, and manufacturing. They maintained their team DNA through a “culture of learning” that enabled knowledge transfer from experienced engineers to graduates.
Focus on the commercial outcome – The goal wasn’t just an interesting bit of engineering—it was a product that would succeed in the market.
Embed a learning culture – Accelerate development by capturing and sharing knowledge across the team.
Be clear on your IP strategy – Whether you plan to hold, sell, or take it to market, make sure your team understands the goal.
This isn’t just about start-ups—it’s about delivering success in engineering. These kinds of skilled, experienced engineers are out there. Yet many companies are compromising on hiring because they can’t find this calibre of talent. The truth is, they’re struggling to be seen in a crowded, one-click application world—not because they lack value, but because the process (and AI) often fails to recognise it.
As this team wraps up, I’m incredibly proud to have helped build it—and to support them again now. Recruitment is a long game. It’s about relationships, not just short-term wins.
If you’re hiring engineers who can take a product from concept to market, please get in touch. These professionals are based in London, Essex, and Kent and I’d be happy to arrange a meeting to discuss how they can bring value to your engineering team.
Available Talent:
- Head of R&D
- Lead Mechanical Design Engineer
- Electronics – Drives & Controls
- Embedded Software Engineer
- Project Manager
- Robotics Specialist
