Technical Operations Specialist - The Hague

TNO; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 39,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Working from home

Pension scheme

Mobility plan

Job summary

TNO seeks a Technical Operations Specialist to support high-tech research facilities, ensuring the highest standards of maintenance and management across sites in The Hague and Rijswijk. You will work with the Technical Coordinator, translating issues into actionable work and coordinating with contractors to protect critical experiments.

You will visit sites, request quotations, supervise tasks, and communicate clearly with users.

Qualifications

• MBO or HBO degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience in a similar role, either on the client side or contractor side.
• Knowledge of laboratory operations and systems, such as pressure control and climate control systems.
• Willingness to quickly gain knowledge of regulations related to technical management and maintenance of buildings, equipment, and sites.
• Good command of Dutch; English skills beneficial in an international organization.

Responsibilities

• Visit different sites regularly to assess issues and translate them into work to be carried out.
• Request quotations from contractors or maintenance partners and supervise the work.
• Coordinate with users to ensure critical experiments are not jeopardized by maintenance activities.
• Progress into the role of Technical Coordinator with guidance and training.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering background

Electrical Engineering background

Safety awareness

Communication with users

Dutch language

Education

MBO or HBO degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Laboratory systems

Job description

About this position

At TNO, you work on the front line of research and innovation. Think of research in areas such as defence applications, the future of mobility, the energy transition, and healthcare. As a Technical Operations Specialist, you enable the work of hundreds of TNO colleagues. You do this by ensuring the highest standards of maintenance and management of our high-tech research facilities, such as crash and blast halls, laboratories, and cleanrooms. Important work. We are currently looking for Technical Operations Specialists for multiple locations, including The Hague and Rijswijk. Will you strengthen our friendly and fast-growing team of dedicated technical specialists?

What will be your role?

You support the Technical Coordinator for the locations in your region. This means you regularly visit different sites. In the event of malfunctions or user requests, you assess the issue and translate it into the work that needs to be carried out. To do so, you request quotations from contractors or our maintenance partner. You then engage the appropriate party and supervise the work. To ensure that critical experiments are not jeopardized by maintenance activities, you coordinate the work closely with the users. Depending on your experience, you will gradually take on more responsibilities. You will also have opportunities to grow into the role of Technical Coordinator, supported by the guidance and training you need.

What we expect from you

You enjoy switching between high-tech facilities that support a wide variety of research activities. In addition, you have a strong safety awareness and remain alert to potential risks. If contractors or subcontractors fail to comply with safety regulations or quality standards, you are confident enough to address them directly. You also communicate clearly with users of the research facilities, ensuring there are no surprises. Furthermore, you are able to translate their wishes or concerns into practical solutions, which you discuss with the Technical Coordinator.

What you also bring

• An mbo or hbo degree, preferably in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience in a similar role, either on the client side or contractor side.
• Knowledge of laboratory operations and systems, such as pressure control and climate control systems.
• Willingness to quickly gain knowledge of regulations related to the technical management and maintenance of buildings, equipment, and sites. If you already have this knowledge, that is definitely a plus.
• A good command of Dutch. If you also speak English, this will help you in our international organization.

What you'll get in return

• We offer a gross monthly salary between € 3,500 and € 4,500 (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180).
• TNO offers 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.
• 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 Sunday the 27th of September, 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. For this role 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.