Head of Discipline - Software Engineering - Mission Systems

Location: Hengelo, Netherlands

Head of Discipline – Software Engineering –Mission Systems

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to take on the role of Head of Discipline – Software Engineering for our Mission Systems segment. In this pivotal role, you will lead and strengthen our software engineering discipline, delivering critical software development contributions to our Combat Management System and ensuring technical excellence across the full software lifecycle. In this critical leadership position, you will be responsible for steering the strategy, capability development, and performance of  our software engineering discipline, ensuring delivery excellence and technical innovation across a portfolio of cutting-edge Mission Systems projects and product developments.

You will lead a community of over 100 software engineers across more than 10 teams in The Netherlands and Romania, helping them thrive in a high-complexity, high-impact environment where both legacy and next generation systems coexist. The focus is on people, performance, and transformation - driving continuous improvement while nurturing a strong engineering culture.

A central part of this role is the leadership of the Software Engineering Performance Plan - a multi-year, cross-organizational effort to increase software efficiency. From improving predictability and delivery cadence to reducing technical waste, you will be at the forefront of driving measurable performance improvement across the entire software engineering lifecycle.

We welcome applications from candidates based in the Netherlands or Romania. This role can be performed from either location and requires close collaboration with international teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the long-term strategy for the Software Engineering discipline for Mission Systems. 
• Capability Development: Champion the growth and development of engineers and team leads, fostering technical excellence and leadership from within.
• Operational Excellence: Drive quality, process maturity, and software performance improvement initiatives across projects and programs.
• Lead the Software Engineering Performance Plan: Own and evolve the multi-year plan to improve software efficiency across the organization. This includes reducing waste, improving predictability, and increasing the value delivered by engineering teams.
• Community Building: Inspire and grow a strong, connected engineering community through engagement, coaching, and culture-building.
• Change Leadership: Lead organizational transformation within the software discipline, including agile maturity, knowledge management, and long-term maintainability of mission-critical systems.
• Collaboration: Partner with other Heads of Discipline, Engineering Managers, Product Line Managers and Technical Directors to deliver coherent, cross-functional solutions.

Ideal Candidate Profile
You are a seasoned software engineering leader with a strong background in large-scale system development, and a passion for people and organizational growth. You’re comfortable in both strategic and operational domains, with a hands-on mindset when necessary. You understand the engineering lifecycle deeply and know how to lead through influence as much as through structure.

• Proven experience in leading large software engineering organizations (>100 FTEs), ideally in a high-assurance or mission-critical domain (e.g., defence, aerospace, telecoms, etc.).
• Deep understanding of software lifecycle management, system engineering integration, and agile development practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, improve performance, and drive long-term technical excellence.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and coaching skills.
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• Experience within a matrixed, multinational organization.
• Familiarity with naval or defence systems is a pré.

What's in it for you?

• A challenging job in a great team within our high-tech, innovative work environment. Includes the freedom for initiative and good ideas.
• Room for personal and professional growth within our organization, for example in regards to technical, commercial or international skills.
• Valuable international collaboration with coworkers from 68 different countries around the globe.
• A comfortable work space in a modern environment, with a focus on flexibility and the right work life balance.
• You can usually work where and whenever you want. Within Thales, we aim for a 60/40 balance, where you work from home at least two days a week, when your role allows this.
• A good salary, fitti