Head of Engineering

DeltaQuad; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme PME

Lunch provided by DeltaQuad

Monthly team drinks

Team activities

Job summary

DeltaQuad is seeking an experienced Head of Engineering to lead the next phase of our Engineering organisation. This role blends leadership with hands-on technical direction to turn innovative technologies into reliable, manufacturable products for defence, security and government customers worldwide.

Reporting to the CTO, you will build a multidisciplinary team, set engineering governance, own higher TRL development, drive Design for Manufacture, and deliver projects on time while balancing

Qualifications

• University degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering.
• At least 10 years in a high-tech product development environment.
• Several years leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience implementing engineering processes improving delivery.
• Strong track record delivering complex projects on time and within scope.
• Experience transitioning products from development to manufacturing.
• Experience with engineering standards and product certification.
• Understanding of PLM and configuration management.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead and develop a high-performing Engineering department.
• Establish engineering methodologies, development processes and governance.
• Own higher TRL product development from concept to manufacturing release.
• Drive Design for Manufacture (DfM) and product industrialisation.
• Lead customer-specific engineering projects including payloads and mission equipment integration.
• Deliver projects on schedule balancing performance, quality, cost and commitments.
• Develop project planning, resource management and KPI reporting.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality and Operations for successful product introductions and improvements.
• Translate market requirements into executable engineering roadmaps with Product Management.
• Ensure smooth technology transitions with Head of R&D and Head of Resilience.
• Certify products in compliance with applicable standards.
• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence and continuous improvement.

Skills

Engineering degree

10+ years experience

Multidisciplinary leadership

Process improvement

Systems engineering

PLM knowledge

Product certification

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Electrical/Systems Engineering

Tools

PLM

Configuration management

Job description

As DeltaQuad continues to scale internationally, we're looking for an experienced Head of Engineering to lead the next phase of our Engineering organisation.

This is more than a leadership role. It's an opportunity to build a high-performing Engineering department that bridges innovation and scalable product delivery. You'll play a key role in transforming advanced technologies into reliable, manufacturable products used by defence, security and government organisations around the world.

If you enjoy building teams, improving engineering processes and delivering complex technical programmes, we'd love to hear from you.

About DeltaQuad

DeltaQuad develops and manufactures advanced VTOL (Vertical Take‑Off and Landing) drone systems that support defence, security and government organisations worldwide. Our autonomous UAV platforms provide Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities in demanding operational environments.

As our products, customer base and international footprint continue to grow, Engineering plays an increasingly important role in ensuring our technology is delivered efficiently, reliably and at scale.

The role

Reporting directly to the CTO, you'll build and lead a multidisciplinary Engineering department responsible for bringing technology from development into mature, manufacturable and customer‑ready products.

While our R&D department focuses on innovation and lower Technology Readiness Level (TRL) developments, Engineering owns higher TRL product development, design for manufacture, product industrialisation, verification, certification and customer‑specific system integrations.

Working closely with Product Management, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain, you'll ensure engineering projects are delivered predictably, efficiently and in line with customer and business objectives.

Your responsibilities

• Build, lead and develop a high‑performing Engineering department.
• Establish engineering methodologies, development processes and governance that enable predictable execution.
• Own higher TRL product development from concept maturity through release to manufacturing.
• Drive Design for Manufacture (DfM), product industrialisation and engineering change management.
• Lead customer‑specific engineering projects, including the integration of mature payloads, radios and mission equipment.
• Deliver engineering projects on schedule while balancing technical performance, quality, cost and customer commitments.
• Develop project planning, resource management and engineering KPI reporting.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality and Operations to ensure successful product introduction and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Product Management to translate market requirements into executable engineering roadmaps.
• Partner with the Head of R&D and Head of Resilience to ensure a smooth transition of technologies into production‑ready products.
• Certify products in compliance with applicable standards.
• Build a culture of accountability, technical excellence and continuous improvement.

What we're looking for

We're looking for an engineering leader who combines technical expertise with strong organisational and operational leadership.

You'll likely bring:

• A university degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in engineering within a high‑tech product development environment.
• Several years of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Proven experience implementing engineering processes that improve delivery performance.
• A strong track record of delivering complex engineering projects on time and within scope.
• Experience transitioning products from development into manufacturing.
• Experience with engineering standards and product certification.
• A solid understanding of systems engineering, product lifecycle management (PLM) and configuration management.
• Experience balancing technical excellence with customer requirements, cost and planning.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Experience in aerospace, defence, robotics, autonomous systems, automotive, medical devices or other highly regulated industries is considered a strong advantage.

What success looks like

Within your first 12-18 months, you'll have:

• Built a structured Engineering department with clear ownership and responsibilities.
• Established scalable engineering processes and project governance.
• Improved the predictability and efficiency of engineering delivery.
• Strengthened collaboration between R&D, Product Management, Manufacturing and Operations.
• Successfully delivered customer integration projects and product improvements on schedule.
• Successfully executed a product certification programme together with Product Management.
• Built an engineering culture focused on quality, ownership and continuous improvement.

At DeltaQuad, you'll have the opportunity to shape one of the most critical departments within a rapidly growing international technology company.

You'll work alongside passionate colleagues who develop advanced autonomous systems that make a real‑world impact. Your work will directly influence how our products move from innovation into reliable, scalable production.

In return, we offer:

• A competitive salary and employment package.
• 27 days of annual leave based on a full‑time contract.
• An excellent pension scheme through the PME Pension Fund.
• The opportunity to build and lead a function with real strategic impact.
• Excellent opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Daily lunch provided by DeltaQuad.
• Monthly team drinks and regular team activities.

Research shows that some people only apply when they meet every requirement. If you're excited about this opportunity but don't tick every box, we'd still love to hear from you.

Please note that, as part of our recruitment process, we may request a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) and conduct a background screening in accordance with our screening policy. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation throughout this process.