Defense Programme Lead: Complex Systems Delivery

Quiet Capital; Zuid-Holland; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus in the Netherlands seeks a Defense Program Manager to lead complex defence programmes, bridging customers with engineering and operations teams to move projects from concept to delivery.

You will coordinate multidisciplinary groups across engineering, operations, testing and production, translating requirements into clear priorities and ensuring milestones, risks and budgets stay aligned with customer expectations.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing complex defence, military, aerospace or advanced technology programmes.
• Experience with interceptors, strike systems, missiles, or similar defence technologies.
• Experience taking defence systems through development, testing, qualification and certification.
• Strong understanding of defence programme environments and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to work effectively with engineering and product development teams.
• Strong programme management across planning, risk, stakeholders and cross-functional coordination.
• Ability to communicate with senior customer stakeholders and technical teams.
• Strong relationship-building to represent Destinus with external stakeholders.
• Professional fluency in Dutch and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex defence programmes, owning execution, planning and delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with customers and external stakeholders, acting as a strong interface between their requirements and our internal teams
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across engineering, operations, testing, production and other programme functions
• Translate customer and operational requirements into clear priorities and deliverables for technical teams
• Manage programme scope, milestones, dependencies, risks, budgets and deliverables
• Drive programmes through development, testing, qualification and certification activities
• Ensure alignment between customer expectations, operational requirements and engineering development
• Identify programme risks early and drive practical solutions across technical, operational and stakeholder challenges
• Represent Destinus in meetings with government, military, industry and other relevant stakeholders
• Contribute to strengthening Destinus' long-term position within the European defence ecosystem

Skills

Defence programme management

Missiles / weapon systems

Lifecycle development to certification

Defence programme environments

Engineering collaboration

Programme management

Stakeholder communication

Relationship building

Dutch & English fluency

Job description

Destinus in the Netherlands seeks a Defense Program Manager to lead complex defence programmes, bridging customers with engineering and operations teams to move projects from concept to delivery.

You will coordinate multidisciplinary groups across engineering, operations, testing and production, translating requirements into clear priorities and ensuring milestones, risks and budgets stay aligned with customer expectations.