Principal Engineer Drive & Automation

Huisman; Schiedam; On-site; EUR 49,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Bonus scheme

Bike scheme

Holiday entitlement

Company events

Job summary

Huisman in Schiedam is seeking a Principal Engineer Drive & Automation to ensure that electrical and control systems of complex cranes operate as a single integrated solution. You will relate electrical, software, mechanical and hydraulic elements into a safe and cost-effective architecture.

You bring a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field and 8+ years of experience with complex systems, plus strong systems thinking and cross‑disciplinary collaboration.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics or similar.
• 8+ years of engineering experience with complex systems.
• Knowledge of electrical engineering and/or control systems, drive systems and automation.
• Experience designing and integrating complex electrical and control systems.
• Proven expertise in automated systems and algorithms.
• System architecture, interfaces, requirements, validation and integration knowledge.
• Broad knowledge across mechanical, hydraulics and software interfaces.
• Experience with cranes, heavy machinery, offshore or similar equipment is a plus.
• Ability to work across disciplines and make system-level decisions.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall system design and architecture (Electrical & Control).
• Define system architecture and substantiate key technical decisions.
• Ensure electrical, software, mechanics and hydraulics integrate safely and cost‑effectively.
• Act as sparring partner across disciplines; oversee requirements and risks.
• Contribute to engineering standards and the continued technical development of Drive & Automation.

Skills

Systems thinking

Systems-level design

Cross-disciplinary

Technical communication

Electrical engineering

Industrial automation

On-site readiness

Crane experience

Education

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics or related

Job description

Vacancy: Principal Engineer Drive & Automation who is ‘equipped for impact’

Do you want to be part of a globally operating team of innovators? Do you have what it takes to push the boundaries of lifting and handling technology? And are you ready to make an impact with meaningful, high-tech solutions? Then we might be looking for you. Find out more about our vacancy for a Principal Engineer Drive & Automation.

About Our Organisation

We are Huisman. We develop step changing technical solutions and translate these into the design and construction of the largest onshore and offshore installations. For decades, we have been working all over the world for offshore wind, geothermal energy, oil & gas, leisure, civil and port logistics industries. With our passionate workforce and worldwide production, service & sales facilities we are equipped for impact in these times of energy transition. “Systems engineering and risk management are at the core of our approach; they form the foundation of both our equipment design and project management.” Henk Weterings, Chief Technology Officer

About The Position Of Principal Engineer Drive & Automation

As Principal Engineer Drive & Automation, you ensure that the electrical and control systems of our complex cranes and equipment operate as one fully integrated system. You combine in-depth knowledge of Electrical Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering and Control Systems with a broad, system-level perspective. You look beyond your own area of expertise, understanding how electrical systems, controls, software, mechanics and hydraulics interact, and translate this into a safe, reliable and cost-effective system architecture. At Huisman, you work on complex, highly automated cranes and equipment used in demanding environments. Moving seamlessly between system-level design and technical detail, you act as the technical link between the various engineering disciplines.

What do we expect of you?

You are responsible for the overall system design and system architecture, with a clear technical focus on Electrical & Control Systems. You define the system architecture, make and substantiate key technical decisions, and ensure that electrical systems, controls, software, mechanics and hydraulics come together seamlessly in a safe, reliable and cost-effective solution.

Drawing on your senior‑level expertise, you act as a key technical sparring partner for engineers across different disciplines. You oversee requirements, interfaces, risks and technical quality, ensuring that designs are thoroughly validated and documented. At the same time, you actively contribute to engineering standards, best practices and the continued technical development of Drive & Automation.

Wondering if you are ‘equipped for impact’?

You Are

• An experienced engineer with a strong systems-thinking mindset;
• Able to translate complex technical challenges into clear system-level decisions;
• A knowledgeable technical sparring partner who brings engineers from different disciplines together;
• Able to move confidently between technical detail and the broader system-level perspective;
• Proactive and up to date with developments in Electrical Engineering,
• Control Systems and industrial automation;
• A strong communicator, able to clearly and convincingly substantiate technical decisions;
• Customer- and results-oriented, without compromising on safety or quality;
• Practical and accustomed to taking ownership of complex technical challenges;
• Flexible and willing to occasionally work on-site at customer locations.

You Have

• A Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics or a comparable technical discipline;
• At least 8 years of relevant engineering experience working with complex technical systems;
• In‑depth knowledge of Electrical Engineering and/or Control Systems, preferably combined with experience in drive systems and industrial automation;
• Experience in designing and integrating complex electrical and control systems;
• Proven expertise in designing fully automated systems and developing algorithms;
• Solid knowledge of system architecture, interfaces, requirements, technical validation and system integration;
• Broad technical knowledge, enabling you to understand the interfaces with mechanical engineering, hydraulics and software;
• Experience with complex cranes, heavy machinery, maritime, offshore or comparable complex equipment is a strong advantage;
• The ability to work across engineering disciplines and make multidisciplinary technical decisions at system level.

Some Practical Things We Need You To Have

• An EU passport/valid work permit for the Netherlands;
• A good command of the English (and preferably Dutch) language verbally and in writing.

More About Huisman

We design and produce in‑house and deliver our turn‑key products to clients worldwide. Our clients choose us for our entrepreneurial spirit, skills, reliability, and innovative solutions. Examples? Consider our renewed series of Subsea Knuckle Boom Cranes. So, if you join Huisman make sure you are equipped for impact. In other words, surprise us, our clients and… yourself!

What do we have to offer?

• Think big and make big, all in one location. At Huisman Schiedam, both our office and production facilities are based on a single site.
• An open, informal and no‑nonsense culture with short lines of communication.
• An international working environment with ample opportunities for career progression and personal development.
• An excellent benefits package tailored to your experience and qualifications.
• Depending on your experience and knowledge, the salary ranges from € 4,400 to € 7,200 gross per month based on a 40‑hour working week, with scope for further progression within the scale.
• A minimum of 29 holiday days (based on full‑time employment) with the option to purchase an additional 10 days.
• Participation in a collective pension scheme in line with the Wtp.
• Eligibility for a bonus scheme.
• Access to collective health insurance, with Huisman contributing as your employer.
• Take advantage of tax benefits through our bicycle scheme.
• Huisman organises sporting activities, such as a ski trip, as well as various social events, including large‑scale company parties where colleagues come together and get to know each other better.

Application Deadline And Process

• Application deadline: no later than 30 November 2026. Please note: the vacancy may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.
• Selection: we review and assess candidates on a continuous basis, including before the closing date.
• First interview: selected candidates will be invited for an initial interview.
• References: in consultation with you, we may request references from your current and/or previous employer(s).
• Further process: in addition to a second interview, the selection process may also include an online assessment and a technical test.