System Engineer - Unmanned Underwater Vehicless (Remote)

Position: Lead Systems Engineer (Defense & Autonomous Maritime Systems)

Location: Netherlands (Initial remote start available; on-site prototyping access)

Industry: Defense / Autonomous Subsea Platforms

Eligibility: NATO country citizenship required (must be eligible for security clearance)

Compensation: €100,000 – €110,000 base salary + performance bonus + equity options

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Overview

A rapidly expanding defense engineering venture developing next-generation autonomous subsea interceptor platforms is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer. Building high-performance maritime technology designed for harsh subsea conditions like the North Sea, the company offers full technical ownership over platform design—bridging mechanical, hydrodynamic, and electrical engineering to bring complex autonomous vehicles from digital design to physical deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• System Architecture & Budgets: Direct the physical and systemic framework of subsea vehicles; manage strict operational budgets including Mass, Power, Buoyancy, Drag, Navigation, and Communications.
• Trade-Off Analysis: Evaluate and balance critical design compromises between vehicle payload, operating speed, and mission endurance.
• Multidisciplinary Integration: Lead the technical integration of high-voltage battery systems, flight/movement control loops, and sensor payloads within tight spatial constraints.
• Testing & AIT Operations: Oversee Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) simulation, test protocol design, and saltwater field trials from early prototyping through final deployment.
• Team Leadership: Mentor and direct a agile engineering group, stepping in to solve technical challenges across electrical, acoustic, and avionics domains during early-stage development.

Applicant Profile

Essential Qualifications

• Professional Experience: 10+ years of systems engineering background, with a track record of leading physical design cycles for complex vehicles (subsea systems, aerospace, high-performance maritime, or motorsport).
• Education: Degree in Systems Engineering, Naval Architecture, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent practical background.
• Technical Mastery: Hands-on experience with Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT); demonstrated expertise in managing physical constraints such as waterproofing, thermal management, shock, and vibration.
• Security & Language: Fluent or C1+ level English skills; Dutch or NATO-country citizenship with clear eligibility to obtain security clearance.

Desirable Criteria

• Direct experience with Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) or subsea engineering projects.
• Personal hands-on vehicle-building experience (including personal projects or motorsport/aviation hobbies).
• Familiarity with acoustic sensors, hydrodynamic modeling, and high-voltage battery architecture.

What Is Offered

• Technical Authority: Full ownership over core design decisions and system performance margins.
• Compensation Package: Competitive €100k–€110k base pay, performance-linked bonus, and future equity/stock options.
• Perks & Flexibility: 25 paid annual leave days, initial remote onboarding flexibility, relocation support to the Netherlands, and direct access to state-of-the-art prototyping facilities.

Application Process

Submit an updated CV to apply. Suitable applicants meeting NATO citizenship and technical eligibility criteria will be contacted by our recruiting team for a preliminary interview.