Head of Systems Engineering - Physical Products

Who we are Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.   As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.   We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers.  We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.   The role As Head of Systems Engineering, you will own the strategy, design, and delivery of systems engineering across Helsing's hardware-centric and mechatronic programmes. You will lead the definition and integration of complex physical systems spanning ground-based and aviation-based platforms – work that directly shapes the operational capability of allied defence forces. As a member of the engineering leadership team, you will engage directly with industry partners, procurement agencies, and defence forces, taking a central role in shaping the architecture of Helsing's integrated systems. You will ensure technical excellence and robustness at the intersection of complex physical platforms and cutting-edge AI, translating deep customer insight and an acute understanding of technological trends into a culture of holistic system thinking. Working closely with executive and delivery teams, this role combines long-term strategic vision with careful, accountable oversight of the engineering organisation's execution. You will build and develop a systems engineering function of real depth and capability, standardise the tool landscape – including MBSE – and ensure that all systems engineering activities across the company are delivered on time, to quality, and within cost. The day-to-day Define, implement, and scale the overall systems engineering strategy, processes, and tooling – including Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) – across all physical product lines Build, lead, and develop a department of systems engineers, architects, and safety specialists, creating the conditions for sustained high performance and professional growth Establish and own system architectures for complex mechatronic systems, ensuring coherent alignment across software, AI, and defence system requirements Serve as the technical authority on critical defence system attributes – including Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) – and ensure regulatory compliance across all programmes Collaborate with software architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, and AI specialists to translate high-level operational requirements into deeply integrated, effective solutions Hold accountability for system integration, verification, and validation, as well as the qualification and certification of all hardware-software platforms Ensure effective information flow and technical alignment across cross-functional teams, keeping system and software development objectives coherent at scale Establish and enforce quality assurance protocols, lead thorough root-cause analyses, and mitigate system-level risks across the full product lifecycle Manage department timelines, resource allocation, and budgets to deliver concurrent programmes within scope and on schedule Monitor emerging technological trends and translate them into architectural proposals that enhance Helsing's physical defence systems and their integration with AI capabilities You should apply if you Have built and led systems engineering functions for complex mechatronic, autonomous, or defence hardware programmes – spanning architecture, integration, and qualification through to certification Have delivered end-to-end integration, verification, and validation of hardware-software platforms in safety-critical or regulated environments Have applied MBSE methodologies and systems architecture frameworks to manage requirements and complexity across large-scale physical systems Bring deep expertise in RAMS principles and the regulatory landscape governing defence or aerospace hardware Have engaged directly with defence customers, procurement agencies, or industry partners, translating operational needs into precise engineering requirements Are fluent in English and eligible to obtain the security clearance required under the relevant national framework Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically   under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot