Strategic Defense Programs Lead

Destinus; Netherlands; Remote; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus is seeking a Defense Program Manager to own strategic defence programmes in the Netherlands, coordinating with customers, engineering, operations, testing and leadership teams. You will drive development, testing, qualification and delivery of advanced defence systems, translating requirements into clear priorities for technical teams and managing scope, risks and budgets.

You will build trusted relationships with customers and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment between

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing complex defence, military, aerospace or advanced technology programmes.
• Experience working with interceptors, strike systems, weapons systems, missiles, military platforms or comparable defence technologies.
• Demonstrated experience taking military or defence systems through development, testing, qualification and certification.
• Strong understanding of defence programme environments, including technical, regulatory and operational requirements for military systems.
• Good technical understanding and ability to work with engineering and product development teams.
• Strong programme management across planning, risk management, stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior customer stakeholders and highly technical engineering teams.
• Strong relationship-building skills to represent Destinus with senior external stakeholders.
• Professional fluency in Dutch and English

Responsibilities

• Lead complex defence programmes, taking ownership of execution, planning and delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with customers and external stakeholders, acting as interface between requirements and internal teams.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across engineering, operations, testing, production and other programme functions.
• Translate customer and operational requirements into clear priorities and deliverables for technical teams.
• Manage programme scope, milestones, dependencies, risks, budgets and deliverables.
• Drive programmes through development, testing, qualification and certification activities.
• Ensure alignment between customer expectations, operational requirements and engineering development.
• Identify programme risks early and drive practical solutions across technical, operational and stakeholder challenges.
• Represent Destinus in meetings with government, military, industry and other relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to strengthening Destinus' long-term position within the European defence ecosystem

Skills

Defence programme management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional coordination

Technical collaboration

Dutch and English communication

Job description

Destinus is seeking a Defense Program Manager to own strategic defence programmes in the Netherlands, coordinating with customers, engineering, operations, testing and leadership teams. You will drive development, testing, qualification and delivery of advanced defence systems, translating requirements into clear priorities for technical teams and managing scope, risks and budgets.

You will build trusted relationships with customers and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment between