MAIT Lead Engineer - FSO

Demcon; Almelo; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market-based salary

Hybrid work arrangements

Training opportunities

Laptop and mobile phone

Pension plan

Bicycle plan

Job summary

FSO Instruments, a Joint Venture between DEMCON and VDL, is seeking a Medior MAIT Lead Engineer - FSO based in Delft, to drive verification of optical terminals for space.

You will lead MAIT activities across Delft and Almelo, translating system requirements into test strategies, defining verification plans, and guiding a cross-disciplinary team to deliver robust, high-reliability results during integration and test campaigns.

Qualifications

• Experience in verification and validation of complex, high-reliability systems.
• Ability to translate system requirements into practical verification approaches and plans.
• Strong documentation mindset to ensure tests are prepared and well recorded.

Responsibilities

• Own the MAIT and verification approach for optical terminals from development through qualification.
• Define integration milestones and drive test campaigns with a cross-disciplinary team in Delft and Almelo.
• Translate requirements into end-to-end verification strategies and allocate tests accordingly.
• Lead test setup design, measurement concepts, and verification of optical, electrical, and environmental performance.
• Review designs, perform root-cause analysis, and guide improvements for robustness and testability.
• Document plans, procedures, and test reports while maintaining configuration control.

Skills

MAIT

Verification planning

Test campaigns

Systems engineering

Optical alignment

Documentation

English communication

Education

BSc/MSc in Aerospace Eng/Mechanical/Applied Physics/Systems Eng

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

Job description

The MAIT Lead Engineer - FSO role is based in Delft and is at Medior level.

Do you want to lead the verification of advanced optical communication terminals for space? At FSO Instruments, you will take a central role in defining how complex, high-reliability systems are integrated, tested, and proven ready for qualification and delivery. You combine technical depth with a structured verification mindset and know how to translate system requirements into robust test strategies, practical setups, and clear technical decisions during integration and test campaigns.

Over Demcon

FSO Instruments is at the forefront of developing advanced laser satellite communication technology.

FSO Instruments is a Joint Venture between DEMCON and VDL that develops and manufactures optical-communication components, sub-systems, and terminals.

At FSO Instruments we work closely with dedicated partners for development and supply, as well as with our parent companies to ensure we achieve the most competitive products for the market for optical communications in space.

Wat ga je doen?

• Own the technical MAIT and verification approach for optical communication terminals, from early development through qualification and acceptance.
• Connecting teams, disciplines and stakeholders. Ensure synergy over the MAIT aspects over the multiple products that are under development with team members working both in Delft and Almelo.
• Define key integration and verification milestones and drive their execution, leading a focused MAIT team in preparing and performing test campaigns, while ensuring structured planning, clear ownership, and timely delivery of all verification activities.
• Translate system-level requirements into an end-to-end verification strategy, ensuring each requirement is allocated to the right analysis, inspection, demonstration, or test method.
• Define and govern the verification matrix and test architecture, including the decomposition of requirements across component, subsystem, and terminal-level test campaigns.
• Lead the specification of advanced test setups and measurement concepts required to verify optical, control, mechanical, electrical, and environmental performance.
• Set the technical direction for integration, alignment, calibration, and test procedures, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and suitable for high-reliability space hardware.
• Act as the technical authority during assembly, integration, and verification campaigns, making informed decisions on test readiness, configuration control, deviations, and problem resolution.
• Review and challenge product designs on alignment concept, and testability, and translate lessons learned into design improvements.
• Lead the technical interpretation of verification data and non-conformances, steering root-cause analysis and defining corrective actions to improve product robustness and verification quality.
• Guide engineers and specialists in the MAIT domain, raising technical standards, sharing best practices, and helping build a mature verification capability for future terminal programs.
• Lead the documentation effort, starting with plans and procedures going and ending with test reports.
• Lead the verification of control algorithms, embedded software, and electronics, defining how closed-loop performance, stability, interfaces, fault handling, and functional behavior are tested and validated at board, subsystem, and terminal level.

Wat breng je mee?

• An MSc or BSc degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Systems Engineering, or a similar technical field.
• Extensive experience in manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing of high-tech or precision systems.
• Strong experience with verification and validation of complex systems, preferably in a regulated or high-reliability environment.
• Strong organizational skills, organize the verification activities, maintain planning, keep track of process.
• Strong documentation skills and mindset in order to ensure tests are well prepared and well documented.
• The ability to translate system requirements into practical verification approaches, including test strategies, verification matrices, and test plans.
• Experience defining and using advanced test setups and measurement methods for optical, mechatronic, electrical, or environmental performance.
• A solid understanding of precision alignment, calibration, and system integration challenges in multidisciplinary products.
• Experience interpreting test data, troubleshooting anomalies, and leading root-cause analysis to closure.
• The seniority and technical confidence to guide engineers and make sound technical decisions during integration and verification campaigns.
• Excellent communication skills in English, with the ability to explain technical choices clearly to engineers, project teams, and stakeholders.

Wat bieden we jou?

At FSO Instruments we have a flat organization where people can easily find and help each other. There is a lot of emphasis put on personal needs and we discourage overtime, because we know how important work-life balance is.

• A good, market-based salary;
• 31 days off and 8% vacation allowance;
• Possibility to work from home, maximum 2 days a week (with exception of test heavy project phases).
• A good pension plan at Zwitserleven;
• The opportunity to follow training and courses, or externally, so you can further develop your knowledge;
• A laptop and mobile phone from work;
• Bicycle plan.