SYSTEM ENGINEER - UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLESS (REMOTE)

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.