Chief Engineer
- Papendrecht, Zuid-Holland
- Vast
- Voltijds
- Manage development activities from (pre-)concept phase through full-scale development (up to Life Cycle Gate 7), delivering world-class technical solutions aligned with program objectives (Weight, RC, NRC).
- Ensure and maintain product airworthiness in line with certification specifications:
- Perform delegated Office of Airworthiness tasks.
- Initiate actions based on in-service incidents/accidents. * Act as primary technical focal point for external customer on major issues.
- Set up and manage the Engineering Project Organisation:
- Prepare the Engineering Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). * Deliver engineering outputs meeting technical, manufacturing, and certification requirements, within schedule and cost.
- Implement cost and schedule control through NRC planning, tracking and Earned Value Management (EVM).
- Support risk management by identifying technical risks and defining mitigation actions.
- Initiate corrective actions for deviations from planned schedule/budget.
- Manage change and scope control; contribute to both internal and customer-side change control boards.
- Provide operational management to the engineering team leads and engineers.
- Manage engineering resource and equipment needs:
- Resolution of overall Resourcing Conflicts between Programs in Conjunction with Functional Heads * Ensure effective deployment of resources across activities.
- Ensure application of best practices and encourage continuous improvement (incl. Lean initiatives).
- Initiate new/improved best practices and contribute to knowledge sharing and lessons learned. * Maintain effective communication within the team and with stakeholders.
- Act as liaison with Operations and Procurement for manufacturing strategies, cost targets, supplier quotations.
- Support construction and installation of prototypes and pre-production items internally and at customer sites.
- Support Business Development in identifying new opportunities and building customer relationships.
- Identify work packages for external sourcing and draft Statements of Work (SoW).
- Support Functional Heads with PDP process, including appraisals and career development.
- High-level engineering knowledge (TEF Level 5+), across disciplines, with strong aerospace industry expertise.
- Proven ability to balance safety, quality, cost, and schedule in technical leadership.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
- Direct influence on program cost, recurring pricing, and long-term support.
- Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
- Degree in Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent experience/qualification).
- Minimum 10 years' relevant experience, ideally in aerospace and multi-disciplinary teams (Design/CM, EWIS, Analysis, M&P, Manufacturing).
- Experience managing complex engineering projects or leading technical teams.
- Held internal technical approval authority (Design, EWIS, or Analysis).
- Familiar with related disciplines (Operations, Sales, Procurement, Supplier Management).
- Skilled in project planning, management, and execution using recognized methods.
- Commercially savvy; identifies business opportunities and cost reduction potential.
- Experience delivering and tracking engineering tasks with clarity.
- Strong communication and reporting skills for all levels of the organization.
- Proven ability to build relationships and work in cross-functional teams.
- Comfortable making escalation decisions and prioritizing under pressure.
- Experience with Landing Gears and/or transmission systems
- Project management training or certification.
- Experience in international and multicultural team settings.
- Skilled in coaching and developing team members.
- Leadership: Leads by example, creates a positive and safe team environment.
- Communication: Clear, proactive, and aligned with goals and expectations.
- Teamwork: Works effectively across diverse and non-hierarchical teams.
- Drive: Passionate about growth, energetic, and continuously learning.
- Execution: Reliable and disciplined; delivers consistent results.
- Judgment: Takes initiative, makes sound decisions even with limited data.
- Entrepreneurship: Seeks new business opportunities; takes calculated risks.
- Strategic Thinking: Understands the big picture; develops forward-looking plans.
- Empowerment: Invests in others' growth through coaching and constructive feedback.
- A gross monthly salary based on the CLA Metalektro Grade O and in line with your experience and qualifications,
- 8% holiday allowance,
- 42 paid holidays for full-time employment,
- Working conditions according to the CLA Metalektro, including an excellent pension scheme (PME) and travel allowance,
- A pleasant and informal working environment, in which we work together to achieve the best result for our customers in a pleasant atmosphere.
#LI-HYBRID