Senior Project Manager

Optics11; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Optics11 is seeking a Senior Project Manager to drive products from concept to deployment, combining hardware and software delivery with field integration, including offshore deployment.

You will bridge R&D and field teams, translate vague goals into executable plans, and keep programs moving in a fast-growing scale-up. A MSc in engineering or physics and 5–8 years of technical PM experience are required, with offshore experience a strong plus.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of project management experience in a technical environment.
• MSc degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• Hands-on experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.
• Proven track record delivering projects with real-world execution.
• Ability to make decisions and move forward with incomplete information.
• Clear communicator who can align technical and operational teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end projects covering product delivery (hardware and software) and field integration, including offshore deployment
• Coordinate across engineering, operations, supply chain, and external partners to ensure smooth execution
• Translate ambiguous goals and requirements into clear, actionable plans
• Drive momentum and remove blockers in fast-moving, real-world environments
• Support bid preparation by building realistic timelines and execution strategies, even with limited information
• Identify gaps in ways of working and proactively improve processes across teams
• Enable a learning-oriented project environment by sharing best practices and coaching others
• Establish feedback loops between R&D and field teams to improve product and execution quality

Skills

Project management

NPI experience

Technical background

Offshore deployment

Decision making

Communication

Education

MSc in Engineering/Physics

Job description

As we continue to scale, we are looking for a Senior Project Manager, who wants to drive real impact, taking products from concept to deployment.

At Optics11, we build advanced sensing technology that helps protect what matters most, from critical offshore energy infrastructure to underwater security systems. Our solutions operate in complex, high-stakes environments where precision, reliability, and real-world performance are essential.

In this role, you will work at the intersection of New Product Introduction (NPI) and Field Integration, ensuring that what is developed by engineering teams can successfully operate in real-world, often offshore environments. You will play a key role in bridging the gap between development and deployment. This is a hands-on, execution-focused role in a fast-moving scale-up, where not everything is fully defined. You will need to balance structure with pragmatism, make decisions with incomplete information, and keep projects moving despite changing priorities.

What you will do

• Lead end-to-end projects covering product delivery (hardware and software) and field integration, including offshore deployment
• Coordinate across engineering, operations, supply chain, and external partners to ensure smooth execution
• Translate ambiguous goals and requirements into clear, actionable plans
• Drive momentum and remove blockers in fast-moving, real-world environments
• Support bid preparation by building realistic timelines and execution strategies, even with limited information
• Identify gaps in ways of working and proactively improve processes across teams
• Enable a learning-oriented project environment by sharing best practices and coaching others
• Establish feedback loops between R&D and field teams to improve product and execution quality

What’s in it for you

• Work on products that are deployed in real-world, high-impact environments, not just concepts or internal tools
• Operate in a fast-growing, international scale-up where you can truly influence how projects are run
• Regular team activities and shared lunches throughout the week

What we are looking for

• 5–8 years of project management experience in a technical environment
• MSc degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• Hands‑on experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) projects is essential
• Proven track record of delivering projects with real‑world execution (not only planning)
• Comfortable combining structured planning with hands‑on operational involvement
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to think in a structured way
• Experience with offshore or field deployment projects is a strong plus
• Able to make decisions and move forward with incomplete information
• Clear communicator who can align technical (R&D) and operational (field) teams

You will thrive here if you

• Enjoy seeing projects come to life in the real world, not just in plans or presentations
• Are comfortable navigating complexity, including on‑site and offshore environments
• Prefer progress over perfection and know how to balance speed with quality
• Take ownership and proactively solve problems across both product and organization
• Can switch between strategic thinking and hands‑on execution with ease

This role might not be the best fit if you

• Prefer fully defined scope and stable environments before getting started
• Rely heavily on rigid methodologies or extensive upfront planning
• Have worked mainly on large‑scale, highly structured capital projects with limited exposure to fast‑paced product environments
• Prefer to stay removed from operational or field‑level challenges
• Find it difficult to make decisions or move forward with incomplete information

You’ll be working with clients in the defense and security sectors, obtaining a Certificate of No Objection issued by the AIVD (Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service) is mandatory. This means you will need to undergo a security screening. For more information, please refer to details on security screening.