Systems Engineer (Solid Rocket Motors and SAFing)

Destinus; Hengelo; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Destinus is seeking a Systems Engineer to guide design and qualification of energetic subsystems including propellants, warheads, and SAF devices. You will own the end-to-end qualification program from concept to in-service surveillance, ensuring compliance with stringent safety standards.

Working with propulsion, energetics, mechanical, electronics and software teams, you will develop qualification plans, test programs, and documentation to support NATO AECTP, STANAG, and AOP standards.

Qualifications

• BSc. or MSc. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, or a related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years in systems engineering of energetic propulsion or aerospace systems in defense/aerospace.
• Gate-driven, V-model qualification lifecycle with entry/exit criteria.
• Experience with NATO STANAG, AECTP, and AOP munition safety principles.
• Authoring qualification plans, test procedures, verification matrices and reports.
• Configuration management and requirements traceability on complex hardware.
• Strong documentation discipline and ability to defend evidence packages.
• Hands-on across laboratory, integration, and test environments.
• Willingness to travel between production, R&D and test sites.
• English fluency; German, French or Dutch a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with energetics, propulsion, mechanical, electronics, and software leads to integrate qualification overlays into a system-level program.
• Drive product through the qualification process in line with certification frameworks and internal development processes.
• Develop and maintain the Qualification Data Pack – qualification plans, test plans and procedures, requirements, verification matrices, and qualification reports.
• Define test campaigns and acceptance criteria, and coordinate environmental, mechanical, safety, and performance tests to NATO AECTP, STANAG, and AOP standards.
• Engage with end user, lead engineers and customer to document system and sub-system requirements for tailoring qualification programs.
• Maintain requirements traceability and verification cross-references; ensure every requirement is verified.
• Manage re-qualification / delta qualification and scope re-qualification activities per framework criteria.
• Support hazard and safety assessments at system level and underpin the safety case and qualification.
• Help build internal systems and qualification engineering discipline to advance products.

Skills

Systems engineering

Documentation discipline

Analytical mindset

Hands-on engineering

Travel willingness

English fluency

Education

BSc/MSc in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems

Job description

About the Role

The Destinus engineering team is seeking a Systems Engineer to guide product design and drive qualification of energetic subsystems such as solid rocket motors, warheads, auxiliary pyrotechnics, and safety, arming and firing (SAF) devices. The role owns the qualification program end to end, from Mission Concept Review through to type qualification, production acceptance, and in‑service surveillance.

The energetic sub-systems need to be developed and qualified to rigorous standards to support platform level efforts and qualification programs. Energetic sub-systems form a critical technology for the operation of Destinus Effectors.

The ideal candidate combines hands‑on systems and test engineering with documentation discipline and broad‑based systems understanding to build a defensible Engineering Qualification Program and Qualification file.

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with energetics, propulsion, mechanical, electronics, and software discipline leads to integrate qualification overlays into a coherent system‑level program.
• Drive product through the qualification process in line with certification frameworks and internal development processes.
• Develop and maintain the Qualification Data Pack - qualification plans, test plans and procedures, requirements, verification matrices, and qualification specifications and reports.
• Define test campaigns and acceptance criteria, and coordinate environmental, mechanical, safety, and performance test programs to NATO AECTP, STANAG, and AOP standards.
• Engage with the end user, lead engineers and customer to understand and document both system and sub‑system requirements for tailoring qualification programs
• Help build and maintain requirements traceability and verification cross‑references, ensuring every requirement is verified and traceable.
• Manage re‑qualification / delta qualification: Assess change and failure triggers, classify them, and scope the re‑qualification activity in line with the framework's re‑qualification criteria.
• Support hazard and safety assessments at system level and ensure the qualification evidence underpins the system safety case and Statement of Qualification.
• Help build an internal systems and qualification engineering discipline and structures to take our products to the next level

Requirements

• BSc. or MSc. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, or a related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in systems engineering of energetic systems such as , propulsion, missile, or aerospace systems in a defense or aerospace environment.
• Working knowledge of a gate‑driven, V‑model qualification lifecycle and the deliverables and entry/exit criteria associated with formal design and qualification reviews.
• Extensive experience with NATO and equivalent qualification standards - STANAG, AECTP, and AOP munition safety principles, or equivalent national frameworks.
• Proven experience authoring qualification plans, test procedures, verification matrices, and qualification reports in a regulated, safety‑critical environment.
• Experience with configuration management, requirements traceability, and document control on a complex hardware program.
• Strong documentation discipline and analytical mindset, with the ability to assemble and defend a complete evidence package under technical‑authority review.
• Able to work hands‑on across laboratory, integration, and test environments.
• Willingness to travel between production, R&D, and test sites in various locations.
• Fluency in English; German, French or Dutch is a plus.