Systems Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is assisting a leading High-Tech Precision Engineering client in the Netherlands to fill a Senior Systems Engineer role based in Alkmaar. You will own technical direction from concept through deployment, spanning optics, mechanics, electronics and software.

The role requires strong leadership across multidisciplinary teams, experience with production and a quality management system, and the ability to partner with customers and external suppliers.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years as Systems Engineer/Architect/Lead Development Engineer.
• Proven ability to lead system definition and risk management across full lifecycle.
• Experience across optics, mechanics, electronics and software.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical direction from concept to customer deployment.
• Oversee requirements traceability and risk management across projects.
• Collaborate with customers/partners and guide production-ready solutions.

Skills

System ownership

Requirements traceability

Technical risk management

Multidisciplinary leadership

Production experience

QMS familiarity

Education

University degree in Physics / Systems Engineering / related

Job description

Industry: High-Tech Precision Engineering

Overview of the Role:

We are working with a front-runner in the Photonics industry based in the Netherlands. They are looking to hire a Systems Engineer to take full technical ownership of their complex photonic sensing engineering projects, from concept through to customer deployment. Their technology spans sectors including industrial measurement, semiconductor, and defence, and they co-develop cutting-edge solutions with some of the most advanced customers in the market. This is a senior, high-impact role sitting at the heart of the business, directly contributing to the company's Technology Roadmap and offering significant responsibility from day one.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Systems Engineer, Architect, or Lead Development Engineer.
• Proven ability to lead system definition, requirements traceability, and technical risk management across the full development lifecycle.
• Multi-disciplinary engineering leadership experience spanning two or more of: optics, mechanics, electronics, and software.
• Track record of taking products through to production (not just low-level development) in a high-tech or precision engineering environment.
• Experience working with a professional quality management system.
• Must be based in the Netherlands and able to work from the office in Alkmaar.

Required / Highly Preferred:

• University degree in Physics, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Informatics
• Background in photonics, sensing, optics, or industrial measurement
• Experience with development and outsourcing of make-parts including dedicated electronics (PCBAs)
• Experience co-developing solutions with customers or external partners

Beneficial:

• Familiarity with photonic sensing applications
• Knowledge of customer verticals such as semiconductor or defence
• Experience working in a small, fast-moving, entrepreneurial engineering environment

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.