Head of Engineering Delivery - Mission Systems

Head of Engineering Delivery - Mission Systems

About the Role

As Head of Engineering Delivery, you will hold a pivotal role within our Engineering department for Mission Systems. You oversee the engineering delivery of our engineering portfolio, consisting of our Mission Systems projects as well as the product development of our Combat Management System. You will lead an engineering delivery team of around 25 FTE, across the Netherlands, Portugal and Romania, consisting of Engineering Delivery Managers (EDM’s) and a team of Work Package Managers (WPM’s) which is managed by a dedicated team manager.

Your main goal is to ensure that engineering delivery is firmly controlled along the axes of schedule, quality and cost. We are looking for someone who not only refines our processes and ensures we’re in control every month, but also works in a metric-driven way so we always know where we stand. Finally, you bring inspiration, connect across borders, bring people together and you are truly results-driven.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the long-term strategy for the Engineering Delivery within our Mission Systems segment.
• Capability Development: Champion the growth and development of EDM’s and WPM’s, fostering engineering project management excellence and leadership from within.
• Operational Excellence: Drive quality, process maturity, and engineering delivery initiatives across projects and programs.
• Lead the Engineering Delivery Performance Plan: Own and evolve the multi-year plan to improve engineering delivery across the organization. This includes reducing variances, improving predictability, and increasing the value delivered by engineering teams.
• Community Building: Inspire and grow a strong, connected community through engagement, coaching, and culture-building.
• Change Leadership: Lead organizational transformation within the engineering delivery discipline.
• Collaboration: Partner with other Heads of Discipline, Engineering Managers, Product Line Managers and Technical Directors to deliver coherent, cross-functional solutions.

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are a seasoned engineering leader with a strong background in engineering project management, and a passion for people and organizational growth. You’re comfortable in both strategic and operational domains, with a hands-on mindset when necessary. You understand the engineering project management principles deeply and know how to lead through influence as much as through structure.

• Proven ability to lead engineering delivery across multiple international teams
• Strongly focused on schedule, quality and cost control in complex engineering environments.
• Experience in setting up and optimizing processes to keep projects on track.
• A metric-driven mindset to continuously monitor and adjust performance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, improve performance, and drive long-term technical excellence.
• An inspiring and connecting leadership style that brings people together and drives results.
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• Experience within a matrixed, multinational organization.
• Familiarity with naval or defence systems is a pré.

What's in it for you?

• A challenging job in a great team within our high-tech, innovative work environment. Includes the freedom for initiative and good ideas.
• Room for personal and professional growth within our organization, for example in regards to technical, commercial or international skills.
• Valuable international collaboration with coworkers from 68 different countries around the globe.
• A comfortable work space in a modern environment, with a focus on flexibility and the right work life balance.
• You can usually work where and whenever you want. Within Thales, we aim for a 60/40 balance, where you work from home at least two days a week, when your role allows this.
• A good salary, fitting travel allowance, and the ability to personalize your employment conditions: for instance, you can trade PTO for internet costs, our bicycle plan, company fitness and relocation costs.
• 40 days off per year (PTO).

Security Requirements

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in The Netherlands and employment and/or education history. This position requires a personal security clearance (AIVD B screening). For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please refer to the General Intelligence and Security Service.

“Bij Thales krijg ik alle kansen en de ruimte om mijzelf verder te ontwikkelen, en dat als onderdeel van allerlei gave processen en projecten binnen de organisatie!” Anoek Trainee

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