How to apply for Service Pre‑Sales Technical Team Lead

About HITACHI ENERGY

Hitachi Energy is a global leader in advancing sustainable energy systems, committed to a carbon-neutral future. With a strong focus on innovation and digitalization, the company offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects that shape the energy landscape. Remote UK-based roles provide flexibility while being part of a mission-driven organization.

About the role

This role combines technical leadership with people management, overseeing a team of service pre-sales professionals to deliver high-quality proposals. You'll be the technical anchor for service bids, ensuring alignment across engineering, operations, and service units. The position is impactful because it directly influences Hitachi Energy's ability to win long-term service contracts and drive sustainable energy solutions.

A typical day

A typical day might start with a team stand-up to review active bids and allocate resources. You'll then join a call with sales and engineering to discuss a complex proposal, identifying technical risks and solution options. Afternoon could involve coaching a team member on proposal structure or reviewing a draft bid for consistency, ending with a strategic meeting on upcoming service opportunities.

Who HITACHI ENERGY is looking for

• Proven track record in technical presales for service business, especially long-term contracts in energy, utilities, or industrial sectors.
• Experienced in tendering and creating technically robust, commercially viable proposals with risk identification early in the process.
• People management background with a passion for coaching and developing sales talent, fostering a collaborative team culture.
• Strong communicator who can articulate service value (reliability, lifecycle cost) to both technical and commercial stakeholders.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your CV to highlight specific examples of leading service pre-sales teams and winning long-term contracts, not just generic sales experience.
• Quantify your impact: e.g., 'Led team to achieve a 20% increase in proposal win rate for service contracts' or 'Reduced bid cycle time by 15%'.
• Emphasize your understanding of Hitachi Energy's focus on sustainability and how your experience aligns with advancing carbon-neutral energy systems.
• In your cover letter, mention specific technologies or services (e.g., transformer service, grid automation) relevant to Hitachi Energy's portfolio.
• Prepare to discuss how you've handled technical risks in proposals and resolved cross-functional conflicts during bid development.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your leadership approach: how you develop a team of pre-sales professionals to deliver consistent, high-quality proposals.', "Specific examples of successful service bids you've led, particularly for long-term contracts, and the technical/commercial strategies used.", 'Your ability to coordinate across engineering, operations, and service units to ensure proposal consistency and risk mitigation.', "Passion for sustainable energy and how your work contributes to Hitachi Energy's mission of a carbon-neutral future."]

Research before applying

• Review Hitachi Energy's recent press releases on service contracts or sustainability initiatives, especially in the UK.
• Understand the company's portfolio of services for transmission and distribution, such as transformer lifecycle management or grid digitalization.
• Explore Hitachi Energy's commitment to innovation (e.g., Lumada digital solutions) and how service pre-sales supports these offerings.
• Look into the company's organizational structure for service units and how the UK remote team fits into global operations.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Describe a time you led a team through a complex service bid. How did you ensure technical quality and commercial viability?
• How do you identify and mitigate risks early in the proposal process? Provide a specific example.
• How would you coach a junior pre-sales team member who struggles to articulate service value?
• What metrics do you use to measure the success of a service pre-sales team?
• How do you stay updated on Hitachi Energy's service offerings and competitors in the energy sector?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing too much on product sales rather than service contracts and long-term value propositions.
• Neglecting to mention people management experience or providing vague descriptions of team leadership.
• Failing to demonstrate knowledge of the energy sector's specific challenges, such as regulatory requirements or asset lifecycle management.