Senior Project manager Human Machine Teaming

TNO; Soesterberg; Hybrid; EUR 63,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Hybrid/remote work options

Flexible working hours

33 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Public transport reimbursement

Professional development courses

Mobility plan

Job summary

TNO is seeking a Senior Project Manager Human Machine Teaming to lead multi-disciplinary projects in defence and security, coordinating researchers, engineers and domain experts. You will shape project scope, budget, plans and stakeholder expectations while growing the team’s capabilities and market impact.

You will guide complex programs from concept to delivery, ensuring high quality research outcomes and strong client satisfaction across multiple concurrent projects.

Qualifications

• Completed university education in a relevant field for research into human-machine teaming.
• At least 5 years of experience as a project leader in a research environment.
• Experience as a project manager or project leader of different types of projects with multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent command of Dutch and English.
• People management skills and stress resistance.
• Enthusiastic and motivated to immerse in stakeholders' world (Defence & Security).

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple projects in defence and security contexts, ensuring results on time and within budget.
• Plan and organise research with substantive and commercial experts.
• Manage project teams, monitor progress, and maintain a positive working atmosphere.
• Act as sparring partner for subject matter experts and a primary contact for customers.
• Develop knowledge within the team and translate insights into market opportunities.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Dutch & English

People management

Education

University degree in a relevant field

Job description

About this position

Do you envision a future in which humans and (intelligent) systems work together effectively and responsibly? As a Senior Project Manager Human Machine Teaming, you are at the helm of these kinds of groundbreaking projects. The mission of the HMT department is to generate knowledge and develop methods that improve the interaction between humans and technological systems. We investigate the effects of human-machine collaboration on performance, behaviour and motivation of people on topics such as artificial intelligence, interactive robotics, interaction design, staffing and collaboration in control rooms. You will work in the Human Machine Teaming (HMT) department, consisting of approximately 50 colleagues with diverse backgrounds, including AI researchers, engineers, cognitive psychologists and interaction designers. Within projects, you will not only work together with colleagues from HMT, but also with experts from other departments.

What will be your role?

As a project leader, you are responsible for achieving project results on time and within budget. What that result is varies. Sometimes it is a feasibility study or analysis, other times it is a prototype or the testing and adaptation of existing technology for its usability for Defence and National Security. You always work on multiple projects at the same time. During your working day, you constantly switch between the different topics. You often work on behalf of clients in the defence and security domain, such as the armed forces, the Ministry of Justice and Security and the police. You will develop a clear picture of the needs behind customer questions and of the frameworks and interests of the project. You then plan and organise the research and ensure high customer satisfaction. Within the project, you focus on delivering high-quality answers to customers, the usability and implementability of the results at the customer and strengthening the knowledge base of your department. Thanks to you, the members of the project team know exactly what is expected of them and are given the opportunity to develop to the fullest. You pay extra attention to the development of the starters within your team. You will also look for new ways to bring the knowledge and experience that your department develops to the market. During the project, you also have an eye for other support needs that the customer may have and convert them into new projects. To do this, you work together with subject matter experts and business developers.

You

• Develops a keen view of customer needs and project frameworks.
• Plan and organise the project together with substantive and commercial experts.
• Manages the project team, monitors progress and ensures a good working atmosphere.
• You are a sparring partner for subject matter experts and a point of contact for customers.
• Pays attention to knowledge development and guidance of start-ups.
• Ensures satisfied customers and high-quality research results.

What we expect from you

You are a connector who successfully brings projects from start to completion. In addition, you are a real controller who finds it a challenge to get complex projects on track and bring them to a successful conclusion independently and together with clients and stakeholders. To do this, you adopt a flexible attitude towards the customer while focusing on the intended end result and you bring up major deviations. You have experience with different approaches to projects to achieve a result. You have experience with research projects and leading professionals in multidisciplinary teams. You are good listeners, ask questions and communicate clearly with both customers and colleagues.

You also bring

• A completed university education in a relevant field for research into human-machine teaming. For example, (technical) business administration, public administration, psychology, data science, computer science, social sciences or industrial design.
• At least 5 years of experience as a project leader in a research environment.
• Experience as a project manager or project leader of different types of projects (short-term and multi-year projects or programmes, with industry, multidisciplinary teams, etc.).
• Excellent command of Dutch and English.
• People management skills and stress resistance.
• You are enthusiastic and motivated to immerse yourself in the world of our stakeholders (Defence and Security).

What you'll get in return

• We offer a gross monthly salary between € 5,650 and € 7,500 (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180).
• We offer optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation.
• An extremely professional, innovative working environment where colleagues are leading experts in their field.
• The opportunity to attend courses, workshops and conferences, and to receive training and coaching based on your needs.
• 33 days annual leave plus a flexible holiday that can be used on a cultural, religious, or otherwise important day of your choosing (on a full‑time basis).
• An employer working towards a respectful, inclusive, and equitable work environment where every employee can flourish, with various initiatives such as Jong TNO, numerous expertise based guilds, Rainbow Community and Round Tables on diverse inclusion topics.
• We offer a comprehensive and flexible mobility plan that also includes full compensation for public transportation for commuting and business travel.
• Great social events with your team and other TNO colleagues. That’s how you will get to know a lot of people really quickly.
• Flexible working hours, the possibility to work parttime (32 or 36 hours) and the possibility of working from home.
• Extensive relocation package for international candidates.
• A good pension scheme.

Read more about tailoring your benefits package.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high‑impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow. Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results. At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.

The selection process

Please apply before 8th of November, 2026. The selection process comprises two interview rounds. In a final meeting we will discuss the terms of employment and your tailored benefits package. We aim to finalize the entire process within four weeks. The selection process may include an online assessment and a reference check. A certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required before starting a new job at TNO. As you will be working for clients in the domain of defence and security, a Certificate of No Objection issued by AIVD (the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service) is mandatory. This means you will have to undergo a security screening. Read more about security screening.