Experimentation Lead – Hypersonic Ballistic Experiments

S[&]T; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

S&T is seeking an Experimentation Lead to advance hypersonic ballistic experiments in a high-tech defence–oriented research environment. You will own the preparation, execution and reporting of complex tests, collaborating with engineers, researchers and test specialists.

Based on-site in the Netherlands, you will design experimental setups, coordinate activities, make technical decisions and ensure safety and data quality across campaigns, driving practical solutions from concept to reporting.

Qualifications

• HBO degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or a comparable technical discipline.
• Approximately 5 years of relevant practical engineering experience in industrial/production/offshore environments.
• Experience with project coordination and/or functional leadership including directing colleagues or suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute hypersonic ballistic experiments from preparation to reporting.
• Translate simulation data into practical engineering solutions.
• Design and build experimental test setups integrating mechanical, electronic and optical components.
• Coordinate and lead test activities ensuring proper setup, measurement and safety.
• Analyze experimental data and prepare technical reports for customers and stakeholders.
• Act as the bridge between theoretical/simulation work and practical test operations.

Skills

Project coordination

Technical leadership

Mechanical engineering

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Dutch C1

English B2

Experimentation

Safety compliance

Education

HBO degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Are you a hands-on engineer who enjoys turning complex technical challenges into real-world experiments? Do you like working where mechanical engineering, high-tech testing and Defence applications come together?

For our client, a leading Dutch R&D organisation, we are looking for an Experimentation Lead to join a specialised research environment focused on personal protection, explosives safety and ballistic research.

In this role, you will take technical concepts from preparation and design through experimentation, data collection and reporting. You will work closely with engineers, researchers, simulation specialists and test experts to prepare and execute highly specialised hypersonic ballistic experiments.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being close to the technology: designing and building experimental setups, coordinating practical activities, making technical decisions and ensuring experiments are performed safely, accurately and according to plan.

What will you do?

As Experimentation Lead, you will take technical ownership of the preparation, execution and completion of hypersonic ballistic experiments.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Plan and prepare experiments by understanding the technical question, defining experiment matrices and developing detailed measurement plans.
• Translate simulation and engineering data into practical solutions, working closely with colleagues performing finite-element simulations and other technical analyses.
• Design and build experimental test setups, combining mechanical, electronic and optical components with advanced acceleration technology.
• Coordinate and lead test activities, ensuring that setups, measurements and procedures are correctly prepared and executed.
• Work closely with test specialists and shooting experts, understanding their practical requirements and translating these into effective technical solutions.
• Monitor quality and safety throughout experiments and identify improvements to test setups well in advance of future campaigns.
• Make practical technical decisions when required and take ownership of the execution of experiments.
• Process and analyse experimental data during and immediately after test campaigns.
• Prepare clear and accurate technical reports and present results to customers and stakeholders.
• Work with colleagues on reporting while simultaneously preparing the next series of experiments.
• Act as the link between theoretical/simulation specialists and practical test operations, ensuring that technical information can be effectively translated into action.

What will make you successful?

You are a practical and technically minded engineer who enjoys taking ownership and making things happen. You are comfortable working in an environment where experiments can be complex, time-critical and highly specialised.

You bring:

• A completed HBO degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or a comparable technical discipline.
• Approximately 5 years of relevant practical engineering experience, for example as a Mechanical Engineer, Project Engineer or Project/Process Engineer in an industrial, production, process or offshore environment.
• Experience with project coordination and/or functional leadership, including providing direction to colleagues, suppliers or project activities.
• Experience working in or around production environments, industrial installations or commissioning activities.
• A structured and analytical approach to engineering design, testing and problem solving.
• The confidence to make technical decisions and take responsibility for the outcome.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work with people at different technical levels — from simulation specialists and engineers to practical test specialists.
• A pragmatic and proactive mindset: you look ahead, identify potential issues and act before they become problems.
• Strong discipline and attention to detail, particularly when documenting experimental results and completing technical reporting.
• Fluent Dutch (C1) and good working proficiency in English (B2), both written and spoken.

Nice to have

• Experience with CAD design, preferably SolidWorks or a comparable system.
• Knowledge of machining and manufacturing techniques.
• Experience coordinating outsourced turning and milling work.
• Experience with quality control and inspection of manufactured components against technical specifications.
• Experience with experimental testing, test setups, commissioning or R&D environments.
• Experience in Defence, aerospace, high-tech R&D or another technically complex environment.

Why this role?

• Work on unique, highly specialised experiments at the intersection of mechanical engineering, high-tech research and Defence.
• Take ownership of experiments from concept and preparation through execution and reporting.
• Work alongside experienced engineers, researchers and technical specialists.
• Combine hands-on engineering with project coordination and technical decision-making.
• Contribute to research and technologies with direct applications in Defence and personal protection.
• Become part of a multidisciplinary environment where practical engineering and advanced research come together.

Working environment

The role is primarily based on-site, with standard working hours from 08:30 to 17:00. During experiment campaigns, working hours may extend beyond these times.

Working from home is limited and primarily possible for reporting activities, where the classification of the work allows it.

If you are an experienced engineer who enjoys building, testing, coordinating and solving complex technical challenges in practice, we would be very interested in hearing from you.