Engineering Delivery Manager

The F126 Engineering Delivery Manager leads the technical delivery of one of Europe's most complex naval programs, overseeing 400+ engineers across System Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and IVVQ.

This position requires exceptional technical leadership to deliver cutting-edge naval combat systems for the German Navy's next-generation frigates.

As the F126 EDM, you will:

Lead the technical delivery  of the complete F126 solution, ensuring on-time, on-quality delivery of all engineering deliverables

Partner closely with the F126 Project Management  (your peers reporting to the F126 Project Director) to ensure seamless integration of technical delivery with program management

Oversee and coordinate  System Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and IVVQ teams totaling 400+ engineers

Drive engineering excellence  across a geographically distributed organization (Netherlands, Germany, Romania)

Represent engineering  in customer reviews and executive-level governance forums

Navigate complex stakeholder landscapes  across multiple Thales entities, customer organizations, and international partners

Foster collaboration  across 14 nationalities, creating a unified high-performance engineering culture

Champion technical innovation  while managing risks in this critical naval program

Lead transformation  of engineering processes, tools, and practices for continuous improvement

Develop future leaders  through coaching and creating growth opportunities across the organization

This role offers exceptional visibility and impact, directly shaping the success of one of Thales' most strategic programs. You'll work at the intersection of cutting-edge naval technology and large-scale system-of-systems engineering, with direct influence on European naval capabilities for decades to come.

Why you'd be a good match
Profile:

Master’s degree in engineering, computer science, or equivalent

7+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience, with at least 3 years managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary engineering organizations

Proven track record in naval systems, defense, or similar complex systems integration domains

Experience leading engineering teams across multiple countries and cultures

Active security clearance or ability to obtain one

Fluent English:
Dutch and German language skills are highly valued

Technical Excellence :
Deep understanding of systems integration and large-scale software development in mission-critical environments

Scale Management :
Proven ability to lead 300+ person engineering organizations across multiple technical disciplines

Strategic Technical Leadership :
Experience defining and executing engineering strategies for billion-euro programs

Naval Systems Expertise :
Strong knowledge of naval combat systems or complex defense systems integration

Software at Scale :

Experience with large-scale software development for real-time, safety-critical systems

Engineering Governance :
Mastery of modern engineering practices, tools, and quality assurance at enterprise scale

Inspirational Leadership :
Creates compelling technical vision that motivates diverse, large-scale engineering teams

Executive Presence :
Confidence to represent engineering at board level and with senior military customers

Partnership Orientation :
Builds trust-based relationships, particularly crucial with Project Management counterparts

Cross-Cultural Agility :
Successfully leads across 14 nationalities with cultural sensitivity and effectiveness

Strategic Systems Thinking :
Connects technical domains, organizational boundaries, and program dependencies

Resilience Under Pressure :
Maintains composure and effectiveness during critical program phases

People Development :
Coaches leaders and creates environments where 400+ engineers can thrive

Decision Making :
Makes tough technical decisions with incomplete information while managing significant risks

Your Career at Thales
Future opportunities will allow you to discover other domains or sites. You will be able to evolve and grow your competencies in different areas:

Room and attention to personal development

Build your talents in another domain of Thales Group, discovering new products, new customers, new countries or go to a more complex Solution

Choose between technical expertise or a leadership path

Build an international career within a leading Engineering Group

What's in it for you

A challenging job in a great team within our high-tech, innovative work environment

Room for personal and professional growth within our organization

Valuable international collaboration with coworkers from 68 different countries

A comfortable workspace in a modern environment, with focus on flexibility and work-life balance

Hybrid working arrangements where possible

Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package

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