Head of Field Operations — Autonomous Maritime Systems

surge marine; Valkenburg; Hybrid; EUR 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity / Options

Deployment package

Hybrid working

Job summary

Surge Marine is seeking a Director of Field Operations to lead international deployment, training, and field support for unmanned maritime systems. You will be the bridge between engineering and real-world naval deployment, delivering training abroad and ensuring fleet readiness.

You will spend significant time—up to 60%—deployed at customer facilities and naval bases across Europe and beyond, building trust with naval officers and shaping operational lessons into product development.

Qualifications

• EU citizenship is mandatory; Dutch nationality preferred.
• Commissioned naval officer with at least 10 years of service and sea duty.
• Willingness to deploy up to 60% of time for international assignments.
• Operational experience with naval combat systems, underwater warfare, mine warfare, or unmanned systems.
• Professional English required; Dutch language strongly preferred.
• EU security vetting and NATO clearance considered advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead international training programmes at customer sites and deploy abroad to train naval personnel in operation, maintenance, and tactical employment of unmanned maritime systems.
• Design and deliver comprehensive training curricula including classroom instruction, simulation exercises, harbour acceptance testing, and at-sea training.
• Act as primary company representative during acceptance trials, IOC milestones, and fleet integration activities.
• Coordinate deployment logistics, scheduling, and field support in collaboration with programme management and engineering; track milestones and field issues to meet commitments.
• Channel end-user feedback to engineering to inform product improvements; serve as the key source of field intelligence.
• Assist in the development of CONOPS, SOPs, and training manuals enabling navies to operate systems safely and confidently.

Skills

Naval background

Deployment availability

Operational experience

English fluency

Job description

Surge Marine is seeking a Director of Field Operations to lead international deployment, training, and field support for unmanned maritime systems. You will be the bridge between engineering and real-world naval deployment, delivering training abroad and ensuring fleet readiness.

You will spend significant time—up to 60%—deployed at customer facilities and naval bases across Europe and beyond, building trust with naval officers and shaping operational lessons into product development.