System Engineer | UUV (w/m/d)

System Engineer – UUV (w/m/d) Valkenburg, Netherlands – Hybrid (start remote, transition to ~3 days on-site), €100,000 – €110,000 + performance bonuses & future equity You don't want to just draw diagrams. You want to own every gram, watt, and Newton of an autonomous subsea interceptor – from concept to saltwater, with full architectural authority and zero margin for error. This is not a paper-pushing systems role in a legacy defense prime. This is building a next-generation underwater vehicle at a stealth-mode startup where the prototyping floor is next to your desk and physics is the only hard constraint. Our Client Our client is a pioneering engineering startup based in Valkenburg, Netherlands, specializing in autonomous and remotely operated maritime systems for NATO naval defense. Founded in 2023, the team is currently ~10 people with a design and prototyping hub in the Netherlands and a small satellite entity in Germany. The environment is fast, execution-driven, and built on ownership. No endless strategy cycles without output – just people who take responsibility and actually ship hardware. Fresh seed backing, undisclosed investors, and a mission to redefine maritime defense capability by pushing physics-limited performance in unforgiving underwater environments. Why This Role Matters You own the complete physical and systemic architecture of the autonomous subsea vehicle – full authority, full accountability You work directly with the Program Lead and a small multidisciplinary team (~8 engineers) – no hierarchy layers, no politics You get real ownership, not administration – direct influence on vehicle architecture, performance budgets, and design decisions Cutting-edge technology: high-voltage battery systems, sensor payloads, hardware-in-the-loop validation – you integrate it all You lead the transition from digital models to physical reality, with rapid iteration cycles measured in hours, not months High impact on a product that redefines maritime operations in extreme environments Hands-on mentality is not a careers-page buzzword here. It is simply necessary. Tragically rare. Own the complete physical and systemic architecture of autonomous subsea interceptor platforms – from concept to operational deployment Serve as the focal point for the vehicle's physical design , bridging mechanical, hydrodynamic, and systems engineering disciplines Own the vehicle's physical performance margins with absolute authority: Navigation, Power, Communications, Drag, Mass, and Buoyancy budgets – and lead all system-level analyses Dictate the compromises between payload, speed, and endurance , ruthlessly managing the margins that define mission success in the North Sea Lead a multidisciplinary team through a highly complex engineering environment, ensuring seamless integration of high-voltage battery architectures, operational control loops, and sensor payloads into a tightly constrained physical envelope Manage a team of engineers and take responsibility for bringing the vehicle from concept to reality Drive the transition from digital models to physical reality , overseeing rigorous Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) testing and qualification logic before the platform ever touches saltwater Plan test campaigns, operations, and future upgrades in a hands-on system engineering role Wear multiple hats when needed: Not only system engineering, but also electrical, acoustic, avionics during the early stages – whatever it takes to get hardware built Demonstrated track record of leading the complete physical design cycle of complex vehicles – subsea platforms, aerospace vehicles, high-performance maritime crafts, or motorsport chassis. Not participation. Leadership. Minimum 10 years of experience as a System Engineer – this is non-negotiable. Deep expertise in strictly managing mass, power, and aerodynamic/hydrodynamic drag budgets across competing engineering sub-teams Assembly, Integration, Test (AIT), and operational experience – ideally hands-on vehicle building as a hobby or side project. You don't just design. You build. Deep experience working under high physical constraints: watertight integrity, extreme shock/vibration, thermal management in enclosed spaces. You know what "zero margin" actually means. Degree in Systems Engineering, Naval Architecture, Aerospace Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering – or equivalent practical experience that proves you can do the job regardless of paper Strong systems engineering background with hands-on budget ownership – mass, power, drag. You manage trade-offs, not just document them. Dutch or NATO-country nationality with eligibility for security clearance – this is mandatory. Non-NATO candidates will not be considered due to defense contract requirements. You are a systems-level thinker, pragmatic, detail-oriented – comfortable with startup ambiguity, fast pivots, and the reality that the answer is often "test it" Collaborative leadership style with mentoring mindset – you will lead a mostly junior team and grow them while delivering hardware Ownership mentality with bias for action – you don't wait for perfect data. You make the call, manage the risk, and iterate. Business-fluent English (C1) – the working language is English. German or Dutch are a plus, not required. What Does Not Work Here Pure theoretical backgrounds with no hands-on AIT exposure – if you haven't built, tested, or broken hardware, this is not your role Candidates with less than 10 years of relevant systems engineering leadership – this is senior-level ownership, not a learning curve Non-NATO nationality or inability to obtain security clearance – defense contracts make this non-negotiable Reluctance to relocate or work on-site when needed – starts remote, transitions to ~3 days on-site in Valkenburg People who need structured processes to function – this is a 10-person startup, you build the process Candidates who view "ruthlessly managing margins" as someone else's job – here, it's yours. Every gram, every watt, every Newton. Candidates uncomfortable with extreme physical constraints – if watertight integrity under shock and thermal load sounds like someone else's problem, it isn't. Base salary €100,000 – €110,000 for senior/lead level Performance bonuses (structured reviews, details TBD) Future employee equity/options program (legal structure in progress) Remote flexibility during first months; relocation support to Netherlands if desired Direct authority over technical budgets and architecture decisions Work adjacent to prototyping floor for rapid iteration People-first, international startup culture 25 vacation days Clear career path for advancement, including leadership opportunities What Makes This Role Special You don't just design systems. You define the architecture, performance budgets, and design decisions for a vehicle that operates where physics leaves zero margin. High visibility and direct influence on product and mission – no bureaucracy, no legacy defense culture Existing potential is already there – seed funding, NATO contracts, cutting-edge technology – now it needs someone who turns concept into saltwater reality Entrepreneurial environment with short paths and high speed – despite defense-sector complexity A lot of responsibility, a lot of ownership, few excuses. For some people a nightmare. For the right person, exactly what they're looking for. Ready for the next step? Apply now as System Engineer – UUV (m/w/d). Whether your current title is System Engineer, Vehicle Systems Engineer, Lead Systems Architect, Integration Engineer, Naval Architect – Systems, Platform Engineer, or Subsea Vehicle Engineer: What matters here is not your title. What matters is whether you have led the complete physical design cycle of complex vehicles, ruthlessly managed system budgets, and shipped hardware that performs in the real world – with full ownership from concept to saltwater. Important: Please confirm your NATO-country nationality and security clearance eligibility early in the process – this is mandatory and non-negotiable. Any questions? +49 8106 – 39 80 370