Lead Technical Specialist in Automation & Manning

As a Lead Technical Specialist in Automation & Manning, you will play a key role in advancing ship automation to enhance operational efficiency, reduce crew requirements, and improve situational awareness. Leveraging your expertise, you will manage and execute research and technology development initiatives in automation, digital twinning, system integration, and decision support systems. Your contributions will be critical throughout the design, proposal, and engineering stages of shipbuilding projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and guide a team of specialists in research, design, and engineering phases.

• Offer expert advice on automation and systems engineering to optimize Smart Ship performance.

• Conduct and oversee verification and validation tests during production and warranty support.

• Develop and propose new automation solutions to address future industry needs.

• Assist in project planning, including activity lists and budget allocations.

• Create and review technical deliverables, including functional descriptions, calculations, simulations, and validation protocols.

• Contribute to design reviews and continuous process improvement initiatives.

• Collaborate with subcontractors to define automation requirements during the engineering phase.

• Specify, assess, and test integrated mission management solutions.

• Ensure compatibility and integration of hardware and software systems.

• Assess the performance of new technologies across design, engineering, and commissioning stages.

• Participate in technical project teams, ensuring on-time and within-budget completion.

• Promote standardized and modular automation solutions by defining pre-engineered building blocks.

• Provide consultancy on automation and manning strategies for new and existing vessels.

• Maintain strong industry connections, working closely with research institutions and relevant stakeholders.

Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant technical discipline with at least five years of experience.

• Strong theoretical expertise in naval vessel or offshore installation technologies.

• Familiarity with agile software development methodologies, such as Scrum.

• Proficiency in functional design of control and monitoring systems.

• Knowledge of IT architecture solutions for vessels, including cloud-based computing models.

• Understanding of industrial automation trends, such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

• Awareness of classification society regulations is an advantage.

• Significant experience in complex technical projects, preferably within naval or offshore industries.

• Ability to collaborate with research institutions, universities, and industry partners.

• Independent, solution-oriented professional with strong communication skills.

• Proficiency in Dutch and English, both written and spoken.

• Strong references, as a security screening is required.

• Must hold permanent EU citizenship and a valid EU passport. Candidates with dual non-EU citizenship or work visas are not eligible due to project security requirements.