Head of Systems Engineering - Physical Products

1w1 week ago

Helsing

Berlin, DE · Full-time · €180,000 – €250,000

About this role

Helsing is a defence AI company with a mission to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership so open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards. As Head of Systems Engineering, you will own the strategy, design, and delivery across hardware-centric and mechatronic programmes.

You will lead the definition and integration of complex physical systems spanning ground-based and aviation-based platforms. This work directly shapes the operational capability of allied defence forces. As a member of the engineering leadership team, you will engage with industry partners, procurement agencies, and defence forces.

Working closely with executive and delivery teams, you will build and develop a systems engineering function of real depth. Standardise the tool landscape including MBSE and ensure all activities are delivered on time, to quality, and within cost. You will translate customer insight and technological trends into holistic system thinking.

We are an ambitious team of engineers, AI specialists, and programme managers embracing an open culture. Join our European teams to solve complex, impactful problems in defence technology. The role combines strategic vision with accountable oversight of engineering execution.

Requirements

Proven expertise in systems engineering for hardware-centric and mechatronic defence programmes
Experience defining and scaling Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) processes and tools
Deep knowledge of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) for defence systems
Track record architecting complex physical systems for ground-based and aviation platforms
Strong background in integrating software, AI, and hardware in defence environments
Familiarity with defence regulatory compliance, verification, and certification standards
Leadership experience building and managing systems engineering teams
Ability to manage timelines, resources, and budgets for concurrent defence programmes

Responsibilities

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 for high performance and growth
Establish and own system architectures for complex mechatronic systems aligning software, AI, and defence requirements
Serve as the technical authority on critical defence system attributes including Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) and ensure regulatory compliance
Collaborate with software architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, and AI specialists to integrate operational requirements
Hold accountability for system integration, verification, validation, qualification, and certification of hardware-software platforms
Ensure effective information flow and technical alignment across cross-functional teams at scale
Establish quality assurance protocols, lead root-cause analyses, and mitigate system-level risks across the product lifecycle