System Engineer Electromagnetics & Military Operations

Location: The Hague

About this position  Within TNO Defence, Safety & Security (DSS), scientists, engineers, and analysts work on technologies that support the Armed Forces in preparing, executing, and evaluating military operations. This expertise comes together within the Electromagnetics & Military Operations (E MO) division. Working at E MO means working at the heart of defence innovation. Here, project managers, researchers, engineers, and analysts collaborate closely on technologies and knowledge that are essential for modern military operations.

Specialists and generalists work side by side on challenges ranging from concept development and system architecture to integration, testing, and validation in realistic operational environments.
What will be your role?  As a System Engineer within E MO, you will work on developing, integrating, and validating complex technological solutions for Defence. You operate at the intersection of technology, user needs, and operational application, ensuring that different disciplines come together in one functioning system.
Depending on your background and interests, your focus may include:
Translating operational customer needs into technical solutions
System architecture and requirements engineering
Integration of hardware, software, and sensor systems
Verification and validation of complex systems
Prototype development and operational demonstrations
Model-Based Systems Engineering (e.g., SysML, Capella, Magic Draw, or Archimate)
Applications within Electronic Warfare, radar, communication, and counter-drone systems
You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, and end users, while maintaining an overview of the complete system. You are able to translate scientific insights and new technologies into practical applications within the defence and security domain.
What does joining via UMBRA mean?  UMBRA is the entry point for technical and analytical talent within TNO’s Electromagnetics & Military Operations (E MO) division, part of the Defence, Safety & Security unit. UMBRA—named after the Latin word for shadow—is a shadow group where both early-career talent and senior experts enter the E MO division. Together, you will work on mission‑critical defence challenges with societal impact, with a strong focus on short‑cycle innovation.

In practice, this means aiming for results within months rather than years. Depending on your experience level and available team capacity, you will also start working on projects in one of the division’s research groups.
In addition, you will follow an onboarding program within UMBRA tailored to your experience level and development goals, helping you find the right long‑term position. Typically, you will transition to one of the division’s research groups after 3‑6 months. UMBRA is based in Rijswijk, where you will start your role; after some time, you will transition to the division located in The Hague.
For junior system engineers  You will start in UMBRA with an onboarding program where you are introduced to the defence context, the E MO domains, and TNO’s way of working. You will work on clearly defined assignments and gradually develop your experience in systems thinking, integration, and validation.
For medior system engineers  UMBRA offers you the opportunity to establish yourself within E MO, further deepen your expertise, and independently contribute to complex system challenges.
For senior system engineers  As a senior, you will immediately contribute to complex projects. You will help shape system architecture, technical decisions, and development directions, and often take on a coaching or guiding role within teams. In addition, you will play a key role in translating research outcomes into operational, deployable systems.
What we expect from you   You hold an MSc degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a similar field
You have affinity with complex system architectures and system integration
You have experience with requirements management, verification and validation, or system design
Knowledge of model‑based systems engineering…