Ordnance Expert

surge marine; Valkenburg; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site hub in Valkenburg facility

Competitive salary

Equity/Options

No Red Tape

Adventure

Job summary

Surge Marine in Valkenburg, Netherlands seeks an Ordnance & Energetics Expert to lead field testing and the safe deployment of energetic payloads on Whiplash platforms. You will direct live-fire trials, integrate ordnance, and ensure safe, maritime-hardened systems in challenging North Sea conditions.

The role requires a Mechanical Engineering degree and ordnance/EOD certification, plus proven field-test leadership in maritime or remote environments.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering and ordnance/EOD certification.
• Proven track record leading hazardous field tests in maritime or remote environments.
• Deep understanding of explosives, initiators, and electronic safety/arming devices (SADs).
• Ability to troubleshoot firing circuits on a moving deck in rain.
• Lead mindset: calm under pressure with safe test team management.
• Nationality: Dutch or NATO-country with security clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead field tests and be final Go/No-Go authority for energetic systems.
• Oversee mechanical and electrical integration of ordnance onto autonomous platforms.
• Design and validate fuse/ignition sequences while ensuring zero-fail reliability.
• Develop mission safety plans and coordinate range clearance with authorities.
• Ensure maritime-hardening of components against saltwater, vibration, and shock.
• Lead post-test recovery and forensic analysis of misfires or failures.

Skills

Field Test Leadership

Ordnance/EOD Certification

Mechanical Engineering

Hazardous Test Experience

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Ordnance/EOD certification

Tools

Fuzing & Safety Devices

Job description

Ordnance & Energetics Expert (Field Test Lead)

Location: Valkenburg (next to Leiden), Netherlands Type: Full-time

The Role

At Surge Marine, we don't just build systems on paper; we prove them in the brutal conditions of the North Sea. We are seeking an Ordnance & Energetics Expert.

You won't just be designing the \"business end\" of our maritime robotics—you will be the Lead Test Officer responsible for the safe execution, deployment, and recovery of energetic payloads during live-fire and shock-test sea trials.

The Mission

• Field Test Leadership: Own the \"Live Range\" environment. You are the final authority on \"Go/No-Go\" decisions for all energetic systems during field testing.

• System Integration: Lead the mechanical and electrical integration of ordnance and energetic payloads into our Whiplash autonomous platforms.

• Fuse & Ignition Systems: Design and validate electronic/mechanical fusing sequences. Ensure zero-fail reliability when commanded and \"always-safe\" stability during high-speed transit.

• Range Safety & Logistics: Develop and execute mission-specific safety plans. Coordinate with maritime authorities for range clearance and hazardous material transport.

• Environmental Hardening: Ensure all energetic components and triggering mechanisms are \"maritime-hardened\" against saltwater, extreme vibration, and shock.

• Post-Test Analysis: Lead the recovery and \"Safe-to-Board\" procedures for platforms. Conduct forensic analysis on any misfires or mechanical failures.

Who You Are

You are a rare breed: a disciplined technical expert with the \"sea legs\" to operate in high-stress outdoor environments. You understand that a lab test is just a suggestion—the North Sea is the only validator that matters.

The Essentials:

• Technical Background: Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent, plus formal ordnance/EOD certification.

• Field Experience: Proven track record of leading hazardous field tests, preferably in maritime or remote environments.

• Operational Discipline: Deep understanding of primary/secondary explosives, pyrotechnic initiators, and electronic safety & arming devices (SADs).

• Mechanical Mastery: Ability to troubleshoot and repair mechanical linkages or firing circuits on a moving deck in the rain.

• The \"Lead\" Mindset: Calm under pressure. You can manage a test team and maintain absolute safety protocol when timelines are tight.

• Nationality: Due to the sensitivity of our defense contracts, Dutch or NATO-country nationality and security clearance eligibility are mandatory.

The Surge Offer

We offer a high-octane environment where your work is the literal \"spark\" that brings our machines to life.

• Competitive Salary: Scaled to your \"black magic\" skills and seniority.

• Equity/Options: We want you to have a stake in the success of the platform you help build.

• On-site Hub: Work in our specialized Valkenburg facility, surrounded by the hardware and the team.

• No Red Tape: We move fast. If you find a better way to optimize our systems, we implement it.

• Adventure: Real-world testing. You’ll see your systems perform in the North Sea, not just on a screen.