Lead Engineer Structures

40 hours | Leiden area | Aerospace & Space Industry | Structural Engineering | Start date: January 2027 | Duration: 1 year (deta-vast)

Company Description
Airbus Netherlands is a leading high-tech company operating in the international space industry. The company develops and manufactures advanced space systems and structures that contribute to innovative space missions.
Working at Airbus Netherlands means contributing to technically challenging projects in an international environment, where engineering excellence, quality, and innovation are essential.

About the Role
We are looking for an experienced Lead Engineer Structures to join the engineering department at Airbus Netherlands.
In this role, you will provide technical and operational leadership to a team of engineers responsible for the development and delivery of large metallic structures used in advanced space applications, including rocket structures.
You will coordinate engineering activities, guide and support your team, and ensure that structural designs meet the required technical, safety, and quality standards. A key part of the role involves working closely with FEM analysts, AIT, other engineering disciplines, Procurement, and Quality to ensure that structural solutions are technically sound and ready for production and integration.
Beyond coordinating daily activities, you will actively contribute to solving complex engineering challenges, analysing technical incidents, and working with specialists to identify and implement appropriate solutions.
We are looking for a proactive technical leader with strong structural engineering expertise, a hands-on approach, and a genuine affinity for aerospace and space technology.

Your Role & Responsibilities

• Provide technical and operational leadership to a team of engineers working on large metallic structures for space applications.
• Coordinate and guide engineering activities, ensuring progress, quality, and alignment with project requirements.
• Support, coach, and motivate team members, helping them resolve technical challenges and improve their performance.
• Oversee structural engineering activities, ensuring designs meet applicable technical requirements and safety standards, including Factor of Safety considerations.
• Collaborate closely with FEM analysts, AIT, other engineers, Procurement, and Quality throughout the engineering and production process.
• Analyse technical incidents and structural issues in collaboration with subject-matter experts and other relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate the investigation, assessment, and resolution of engineering problems.
• Ensure effective communication between engineering teams and production-related stakeholders.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering processes, methods, and ways of working.
• Maintain a strong focus on the technical integrity, reliability, and manufacturability of structural designs.
• Responsible for estimating, executing and monitoring financial budgets of your work packages. 

Your Profile

• A Bachelors or Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a comparable technical discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in structural engineering, preferably combined with demonstrable technical leadership or team management experience.
• Experience with metallic structures is essential: experience with concrete or other non-metallic construction alone is not sufficient.
• A background in aerospace, space, aviation, offshore, automotive, or (offshore) wind turbines.
• Experience with Factor of Safety calculations and structural safety requirements.
• Proven experience leading, coordinating, or supervising engineers in a technical environment.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and the ability to take ownership of technical challenges.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience investigating technical incidents and resolving complex engineering issues.
• Knowledge of structural analysis methods and the ability to work effectively with specialists in different engineering disciplines.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A genuine interest in aerospace technology, space systems, and the products being developed.
• Experience working in an Agile environment is an advantage.
• Knowledge of Nastran is an advantage.
• Good command of English, both written and spoken. 
• Residency in the Netherlands. 

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work on technically challenging projects within the international space industry.
• A leading engineering role with responsibility for coordinating and guiding a team of specialists.
• Collaboration with experienced professionals across engineering, analysis, production, integration, procurement, and quality.
• A full-time assignment of 40 hours per week.
• An initial contract period of one year, with the intention of transitioning to a permanent position through a deta-vast arrangement.
• A dynamic, high-tech environment where technical expertise, teamwork, and innovation are central.

Interested?
Are you an experienced structural engineering professional who combines strong technical expertise with leadership capabilities? Would you like to contribute to the development of advanced metallic structures for space applications?
We would like to hear from you.