Technical Programme Manager

Position: TECHNICAL PROGRAMME MANAGER
Location: Valkenburg

JOIN THE SURGE

At Surge Marine, we don't build PowerPoint programmes. We build the next generation of high-performance autonomous maritime systems, and we need a  Technical Programme Manager (TPM)  who wants to guide complex systems from architectural design directly into the water—from day one.

We are a lean, agile team at the intersection of European defence technology and deep-sea autonomy. If you are tired of managing processes for their own sake and want to  technically   steer  the development of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and long‑range semi‑submersible platforms, you belong here. You won't just track schedules; you will be the technical and operational backbone of the team, working side‑by‑side with software engineers, hardware designers, and naval experts to solve hard engineering problems and deliver real‑world hardware.

Tasks
THE MISSION

As our  Technical Programme Manager , you are the connective tissue between complex system engineering and program execution. You will own the technical delivery lifecycle for our autonomous underwater and surface platforms—guiding them from early‑stage system architecture and requirements definition through integration, field‑testing, sea trials, and final customer acceptance.

This is not a passive status‑update role. You will dive deep into technical risk, resolve integration bottlenecks, manage complex subsystem dependencies, and make high‑stakes, real‑time trade‑off decisions between engineering scope, schedule, and cost. You will be the authoritative technical and operational voice representing our platforms to major defence prime contractors, ministries of defence, and European funding bodies.

YOUR IMPACT

Technical Execution & Delivery:  Own the end‑to‑end engineering roadmap and program schedule. Translate high‑level operational requirements into concrete technical milestones and drive execution across hardware, software, and autonomy teams.

Systems Integration & Sea Trials:  Actively lead the planning and execution of system‑level integration and field testing. You will stand on the pier (and the vessels) driving the engineering team through troubleshooting, sea trials, and validation in real‑world environments.

Engineering Alignment & Trade‑Offs:  Bridge the gap between specialized engineering disciplines. Own the program's technical risk register and make the hard calls on SWaP‑C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) trade‑offs, system constraints, and technical debt.

Technical Bid Leadership:  Spearhead the technical architecture and proposal writing for high‑value EDF, PESCO, and national MoD bids. Translate complex operational needs into executable technical proposals.

Contractual & Interface Governance:  Author and manage technical Statements of Work (SOWs), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and acceptance criteria with prime contractors and technical partners. Guard Surge Marine's intellectual property and technical integrity.

Process   Evolution:  Establish lightweight, high‑impact systems engineering and configuration management frameworks that scale with Surge Marine without slowing down engineering velocity.

Requirements
WHO YOU ARE

You are a battle‑tested engineer who has transitioned into leadership, or a highly technical program manager who can go toe‑to‑toe with senior robotics, software, and mechanical engineers. You speak "system architecture" as fluently as you speak "milestone planning." You understand that in maritime defence, an unmitigated technical risk doesn't just slip a Gantt chart—it sinks hardware. You thrive at the intersection of startup agility and the rigorous discipline required to build mission‑critical, sea‑going military technology.

THE ESSENTIALS

Technical Foundation:  A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, or a closely related technical field.

Experience:

2+ years of experience in technical project/programme management, systems engineering leadership, or engineering management within defence, aerospace, robotics, or maritime technology.

Domain   Fluency:  Hands‑on experience with unmanned systems, autonomous vehicles,…