System Engineer - Unmanned Underwater Vehicless

Role:  Principal Systems Engineer – Defense & Autonomous Subsea Systems

Base:  Netherlands (Remote onboarding option; access to hands‑on testing labs)

Sector:  Defense Engineering / Unmanned Subsea Robotics

Clearance:  Must hold citizenship in a NATO member state and qualify for national security clearance

Remuneration:  €100k – €110k base + annual bonus + equity incentive

Employment Type:

Full-time, direct hire

About the Opportunity
A high-growth defense technology firm specializing in autonomous subsea interceptors is hiring a Lead Systems Engineer. The company engineers high‑reliability maritime robotics tailored for extreme underwater environments like the North Sea. In this role, you will hold complete technical authority over platform design, harmonizing mechanical, hydrodynamic, and electrical sub‑systems from CAD models to operational sea trials.

Core Responsibilities

Architecture & Constraints:  Establish the foundational subsea vehicle framework and enforce key design allocations (mass, power consumption, buoyancy, hydrodynamic drag, comms, and navigation).

Design Trade‑Offs:  Perform comprehensive trade studies balancing payload capacities, mission endurance, and transit speeds.

Cross‑Disciplinary Integration:  Drive the integration of high‑voltage energy storage, flight control software loops, and payload sensors within compact internal hulls.

AIT & Field Operations:  Define HITL simulation frameworks, test protocols, and lead saltwater trials from initial prototype phases to final verification.

Technical Guidance:  Direct an agile engineering team, providing hands‑on problem‑solving across acoustic, electrical, and avionics domains.

Candidate Profile
Must‑Have:

Experience:

10+ years in systems engineering with proven success guiding complex physical vehicles (marine, subsea, aerospace, or motor sport) through full delivery cycles.

Education:

Degree in Naval Architecture, Systems Engineering, Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Hands‑on Expertise:  Deep familiarity with Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT), along with practical solutions for sealing, dynamic thermal loads, shock, and vibration mitigation.

Requirements:  Professional working proficiency in English; NATO‑member citizenship with clear eligibility for security clearance.

Nice‑to‑Have:

Direct background in Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) or ocean technology.

Personal background building vehicles (motor sport, personal aviation, or custom robotics projects).

Exposure to high‑voltage power architectures, acoustic payloads, and hydrodynamic modeling.

Benefits & Package

Total design autonomy over platform architecture and performance budgets.

€100,000 – €110,000 base compensation package, performance incentives, and equity stakes.

25 days paid vacation, flexible work arrangements during setup, relocation assistance to the Netherlands, and rapid access to advanced fabrication facilities.

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