Lead Engineer, Defence - North Europe & UK

Danfoss GmbH; Denmark; On-site; DKK 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Paid vacation

Pension plans

Personal insurance

Job summary

Danfoss GmbH is seeking a Lead System Application Engineer to support its expansion into the European Military and Defense market. You will serve as the technical backbone for the sales team, bridging customer requirements with PLUS+1 platform capabilities and ensuring robust integration in defense applications.

The role focuses on North Europe with opportunities in Southern Europe, requiring eligibility to work on defense projects under national security laws.

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant engineering discipline with defense/industrial context.
• Hands-on experience with control systems and software development.
• Experience with network protocols such as CAN/J1939/Ethernet.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD and ISO/IEC safety standards is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical expert during the sales process and design robust system solutions using Danfoss technologies.
• Provide pre-sales technical support including presentations, demos, and proof-of-concept work.
• Collaborate with customer engineering teams to integrate hardware/software into vehicle and system architectures.
• Document and analyze military requirements (environmental hardening, cybersecurity, redundant systems).
• Identify gaps in product portfolio and advocate for new features to meet defense-grade demands.
• Deliver post-sales support and assist with validation, MIL-SPEC testing, and issue resolution.

Skills

Control systems

Embedded software development (C and C

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics / Electrical / Software / Systems Engineering

Tools

PLUS+1 platform

Job description

Lead Engineer, Defence - North Europe & UK

The Impact You’ll Make

Danfoss is proud to be at the forefront of driving a global transformation in digital and electric solutions that increase productivity and energy efficiency. We are truly passionate about investment and innovation, as we continue to support our customers’ journey towards a greener and lower‑carbon future.

We now have an exciting new opportunity for a Lead System Application Engineer to provide critical technical expertise for our expansion into the European Military and Defense market. This role is the technical backbone of the sales team, bridging the gap between complex customer requirements and the capabilities of Danfoss Power Solutions products. You will be the primary technical advisor for customers, the sales team, and internal engineering departments, ensuring that our solutions are successfully designed, integrated, and deployed in demanding Defense applications.

Your focus territory will be the North Europe region, with additional opportunities to work in Southern Europe and support local SAE as required. Please note that this role will require legal eligibility to work on Defense‑related projects under national security laws.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Technical Solution Design: Act as the lead technical expert during the sales process. Analyse customer needs and design robust system solutions using Danfoss Power Solutions technologies (e.g., PLUS+1®).
• Pre‑Sales Technical Support: Provide in‑depth technical support to the Sales Manager and Account Manager, including preparing and delivering technical presentations, product demonstrations, and proof‑of‑concept projects.
• Application Development & Integration: Work directly with customer engineering teams to integrate Danfoss hardware and software into their vehicle and system architectures. Provide hands‑on support for software development, hardware integration, and system start‑up.
• Product Adaptation & Requirements Analysis: Identify and document technical and functional requirements specific to military applications, such as environmental hardening (shock, vibration, temperature), cybersecurity, and system redundancy (SIL/PL).
• Gap Analysis: Collaborate with Product Management and R&D to identify gaps in our current product portfolio and advocate for new features or product adaptations needed to meet military‑grade demands.
• Post‑Sales Support & Troubleshooting: Provide expert‑level post‑sales support to resolve complex technical issues in the field, ensuring customer satisfaction and system reliability.
• Testing & Validation: Support customers and internal teams during validation and qualification processes, including MIL‑SPEC testing, conformity assessments, and performance validation.
• Knowledge Transfer & Training: Develop and deliver technical training programs for customers and internal stakeholders to ensure a deep understanding of Danfoss products and their application in the Defense sector.

What We’re Looking For

• University degree in a relevant engineering discipline (Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering) and relevant experience as an Application Engineer, Systems Engineer, Field Application Engineer, or similar, preferably within the Defense, aerospace, automotive, or heavy‑duty mobile machinery sectors.
• Strong, hands‑on experience with control systems, embedded software development (e.g., C, CODESYS), and communication networks (e.g., CAN bus, J1939, Ethernet).
• Direct experience with Danfoss Power Solutions products, especially the PLUS+1® platform, is highly advantageous.
• Familiarity with military and industrial standards for electronics and software (MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑461, ISO 26262, IEC 61508).
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex electro‑hydraulic and software‑controlled systems.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to translate customer needs into technical solutions.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely.
• Fluent in English; additional European languages are a strong asset.
• EU citizenship or legal eligibility to work on Defense‑related projects under national security laws.

What You’ll Get from Us

• We promote from within and support your learning with mentoring, training, and access to global opportunities.
• Flexibility, autonomy, and support to do your best work while maintaining a healthy work‑life balance. Your well‑being matters to us.
• An inclusive work environment where people of all backgrounds are respected and valued for who they are.
• Benefits such as an annual bonus, paid vacation, pension plans, and personal insurance. These vary by country and contract, but they’re worth asking about—we think they’re pretty great.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If this role excites you, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now to start the conversation and learn more about where your career can go with us.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category.

Our Commitment to Transparency

Salary ranges listed reflect only the primary location and currency. For local salary ranges and specific benefits in your preferred hiring location, please ask your Talent Acquisition representative for more information.

The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Any benefits listed do not promise or guarantee any particular benefit or specific action. They may depend on country or contract specifics and are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

For more information, please visit our FAQ page.