Director Engineering - Xsens

Enschede | Engineering Leadership | Motion Tracking & Robotics

Xsens turns movement into data. Its inertial sensors, embedded firmware, sensor fusion algorithms and software are used by film and game studios, sports scientists, industrial companies and, more and more, robotics developers. Xsens has momentum across its markets, and humanoid robotics is its fastest-growing segment. To take the next step, Xsens is looking for a Director Engineering to lead the specialists behind its technology and help engineering work faster, more predictably and to a higher standard.

This is a senior leadership role for an engineering leader who knows what great looks like and wants to build it.

The organization

Xsens is a leading provider of motion sensors, software and analytics that turn movement into digital data. The company has two lines of business, Body Sensor Network (BSN) and Automation & Mobility. Its customers work in entertainment, sports and health, industrial ergonomics, automation, mobility and robotics. Xsens is headquartered in Enschede.

Engineering covers the full technology stack: inertial sensor hardware, embedded firmware, sensor fusion and biomechanical algorithms, and the software and analytics customers use every day. The team of around 45 specialists includes biomechanics experts and mathematicians, and it is expected to grow to 50–55. Engineering serves both lines of business and supports production, calibration and Business Development prototyping.

Xsens values proactive, hands-on people who take ownership, make decisions and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. The company is building a performance-oriented culture that is fast, can-do and focused on delivery.

The position

As Director Engineering, you report to the COO. You are accountable for engineering performance and delivery across all product lines. You lead the engineering organization across product engineering, hardware, firmware and embedded software, software and core algorithms. You work closely with the Line of Business managers who set the product roadmap, and with Product Management, Sales, Support and Operations. You own the R&D budget, headcount and supplier decisions within the approved plan.

Your key responsibilities are:

• Engineering performance: assess the organization, people and processes, set a clear plan to raise performance, and lead the move to a faster, high-standards way of working.
• Team and talent: build a high-performing team by attracting strong people, developing and keeping key talent, and addressing performance where needed.
• Delivery and collaboration: introduce a predictable delivery rhythm with Product Management, backed by an engineering capacity model, and make Engineering a trusted partner to Product, Sales, Support and Operations.
• Technical leadership: act as a real thought partner to the leads in hardware, firmware, software and algorithms, and make sure engineering supports production, calibration and prototyping.
• AI in engineering: drive the practical adoption of AI across engineering, from AI-assisted development to testing and tooling.
• Leadership partnership: give the COO and CEO a clear, candid view of what is working and what isn’t.

In the first year, success means a clear plan, a stronger team and a reliable delivery rhythm. In the longer term, it means consistent delivery, AI embedded in how engineering works, and an engineering organization the rest of the business relies on.

The candidate profile

Xsens is looking for a change leader who has worked in or built a high-performing engineering organization and is energized by the chance to shape one, bringing the team along on the journey. You combine technical credibility across the full stack with a candid, down-to-earth and hands-on leadership style.

You recognize yourself in the following:

• Senior engineering leadership experience in a company that develops combined hardware and software products
• A track record of leading cultural and performance change in an engineering organization
• Proven ability to build strong teams: attracting talent, addressing underperformance and keeping key people
• Credibility across core algorithms, hardware, firmware and software, with real depth in at least two of these areas
• Hands-on experience driving AI adoption in engineering workflows
• A degree in engineering or a related technical field
• Excellent English. Dutch is a plus.

Experience with sensor fusion, embedded systems, motion or robotics is a strong plus. You don’t need to come from this exact field. Candidates from adjacent sectors that combine hardware and software products can fit equally well, for example medical devices, automotive sensors, drones, industrial automation or consumer electronics.

Above all, Xsens is looking for someone who knows what great engineering looks like, sets high standards and builds trust through genuine engagement rather than title.

What does Xsens offer?

Xsens offers a senior leadership role with real influence on how its technology is built and brought to market, in a growing company working on motion tracking and robotics.

You’ll receive a competitive base salary, an attractive variable pay arrangement and excellent secondary benefits.

The role is based in Enschede. You’ll be on site at least three days a week, and preferably four during the first year, so living within commuting distance of Enschede is preferred.

Interested?

Quaestus Leadership Innovators is supporting Xsens in the search for a Director Engineering. If you recognize yourself in this role, we warmly invite you to apply.

The process starts with an exploratory call, followed by interviews with Quaestus and then with Xsens. An assessment including a practical business case and a reference check are part of the selection process.

We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If you recognize yourself in this profile but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.