Summary
✨ AI‑Generated
We are seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to lead the design and integration of autonomous subsea vehicles for defense applications. The role demands complete technical authority over mechanical, hydrodynamic, and electrical subsystems, from initial CAD concepts through sea‑trial validation. You will define architecture constraints, allocate system requirements, and ensure compliance with NATO security standards. Candidates must hold citizenship in a NATO member state and be capable of obtaining national security clearance.
Highlights
Competitive base salary with performance bonus and equity; flexible remote setup with access to state-of-the-art testing labs; opportunity to lead technical design of advanced autonomous underwater systems; full-time direct hire.
Description
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 motorsport) 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 (motorsport, 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.
Next Steps
To apply, send an up-to-date resume.
Eligible candidates who meet security clearance criteria and technical background requirements will be invited to a initial screening call.
