Job Description

Location: Hengelo, Netherlands

Engineering Delivery Manager – Mission Systems

Engineering Delivery Managers operate as key delivery leaders within our Mission Systems segment and play a critical role in ensuring predictable and successful engineering execution across our complex, mission-critical programs.

Based in Hengelo, you are responsible for driving and safeguarding engineering delivery performance across multidisciplinary teams. You ensure engineering activities are delivered on schedule, within budget, and according to quality standards. You work closely with Work Package Managers (WPMs), System Engineering Architects, Engineering Managers, and Project Leadership to maintain full control over engineering scope, planning, risks, and execution.

As Engineering Delivery Manager, you enable engineering teams to perform at their best by providing structure, transparency, and continuous improvement. You support engineering teams across the Netherlands, Portugal, and Romania, contributing directly to the successful delivery of our Combat Management System and Mission Systems portfolio.

This role offers a unique combination of operational engineering leadership and delivery optimization, allowing you to make a tangible impact on mission-critical naval defence systems used worldwide.

As Engineering Delivery Manager, you will:

Drive engineering delivery performance

• Ensure engineering activities are delivered on time, within budget, and according to quality standards
• Monitor engineering progress using KPIs, metrics, and performance indicators
• Improve predictability and proactively mitigate delivery risks

Enable and support engineering execution

• Support and coach Work Package Managers in planning, execution, and delivery of engineering work packages
• Ensure alignment between engineering scope, planning, resources, and risks
• Facilitate effective decision-making and escalation when required

Strengthen engineering delivery excellence

• Optimize engineering delivery processes and ways of working
• Improve engineering project management maturity and performance
• Contribute to engineering delivery improvement initiatives across projects and programs

Collaborate across multidisciplinary and international teams

• Work closely with System Engineering Architects, Engineering Managers, Project Managers, and Product teams
• Coordinate engineering delivery across disciplines including software, systems, mechanical, and electrical engineering
• Enable effective collaboration across international engineering teams

Support mission-critical milestones

• Contribute to the successful delivery of key engineering milestones, releases, and customer deliverables
• Ensure engineering readiness for integration, validation, and customer acceptance phases

Your profile

• You are a structured and driven engineering professional with strong delivery management capabilities and a passion for enabling engineering teams to deliver complex technical solutions.

You bring:

• A Bachelor/ Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline
• Proven experience in engineering project management, delivery management, or technical program management in a high-tech environment
• Strong understanding of engineering delivery principles, including planning, risk management, stakeholder management, and execution control
• Experience working in multidisciplinary engineering environments
• A strong focus on schedule, quality, and cost control
• A metric-driven mindset with experience using KPIs and performance indicators
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• A proactive, structured, and solution-oriented mindset

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in defence, naval systems, or other mission-critical high-tech domains
• Experience working in international and matrix organizations
• IPMA, PMI, or equivalent certification is a plus

What we offer

• At Thales, you will work in a high-tech environment where your work contributes directly to global safety and security.
• A challenging and impactful role in mission-critical engineering programs

• Opportunities for professional and personal growth
• International collaboration across engineering teams in multiple countries
• A modern, flexible work environment with hybrid working options
• A competitive salary and benefits package
• 40 days of paid leave per year
• Extensive training and career development opportunities

Security requirements

Due to the sensitive nature of our work, this position requires eligibility for a Dutch security clearance (AIVD B screening). Candidates must be eligible to work in the Netherlands.

Interested?

Are you ready to play a key role in delivering advanced mission-critical engineering systems? We look forward to receiving your application.

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