System Engineer
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
- Have fun to identify and develop opportunities within space programs
- Define positioning strategies and success factors in close collaboration with company leadership
- Build winning consortia and negotiate with industrial partners for proposal participation
- Contribute to shaping Antwerp Space's strategic goals, roadmaps and direction, You will be the responsible for implementing Quality Control and providing Product Assurance for Space projects. You will be working closely with the Quality Manager, Project team members, suppliers and customer.
- Performing all quality control activities during Space hardware MAIT.
- Performing incoming inspection on material types used in Flight Hardware.
- Generating quality records and maintaining full materials and process traceability.
- Ensuring that quality requirements are fully specified and flowed down to suppliers.
- Performing supplier quality assurance activity, performance monitoring and reviews.
- Managing control of Non-Conforming material or product.
- Managing compliance to Customer to requirements and associated deviations.
- Chairing quality related reviews and meeting EQSR, MPCB, MRR, TRR, DRB etc.
- Implementing EEE parts control and ensuring quality level requirements are met.
- Chairing EEE parts control board meetings, internally and with customers., As Head of HR, you are responsible for managing and developing the full HR function, with a strong emphasis on Hard HR (legal compliance, payroll, compensation & benefits, HR budgeting, HR data, and workforce planning). You ensure that HR processes support operational excellence and compliance standards within the aerospace industry. While the focus lies on quantitative and legal aspects of HR, you also oversee key Soft HR activities such as employee communication, performance follow-up, culture, and engagement.
You manage one HR Officer (payroll, admin, fleet) and collaborate closely with the external Recruiter and the Learning & Development Responsible.
Key Responsibilities
- Hard HR & Compliance
· Ensure full compliance with Belgian labor law, joint committee regulations (PC 209), and aerospace sector standards.
· Manage employment contracts, work regulations, employee files, industrial relations, and contact with the HR partners (payroll provider, insurance broker, Agoria, M-Tech, Social Fonds, legal counsel, etc.).
· Handle disciplinary procedures, dismissals, sick leave cases, and legal documentation.
· Monitor working time regulations, overtime, and safety rules & psycho-social risks in collaboration with the Prevention Advisor.
- Payroll, Compensation & Benefits
· Oversee the monthly payroll processing.
· Manage compensation policies, job classification, salary benchmarking, indexation, bonuses, fleet, and benefits (group insurance, meal vouchers, eco-cheques, etc.).
· Control HR budgets, personnel cost forecasting, and reporting to Finance.
- Workforce Planning & HR Controlling
· Develop staffing plans aligned with company strategic plan and certification requirements in aerospace.
· Monitor HR KPIs: absenteeism, turnover, headcount, cost per FTE, training hours, etc.
· Prepare HR reports and dashboards for management and audits (e.g. EN9100, ISO).
- HR Data & Systems
· Implement & manage HR Information System (HRIS) system and ensure data accuracy and GDPR compliance.
· Use HR analytics for decision-making on staffing, absenteeism, overtime, and productivity.
- Soft HR Responsibilities
· Support managers in performance reviews, talent identification, and career planning.
· Work with the L&D Responsible to define annual training plans (safety certifications, aviation standards, technical training, soft skills).
· Foster employee engagement through communication, onboarding, well-being initiatives.
· Promote a safety and quality culture aligned with aerospace regulations.
- Team Leadership & Collaboration
· Supervise and coach 1 HR Officer.
· Coordinate with external Recruiter for recruitment.
· Collaborate with L&D Responsible, Prevention Advisor, Finance, and Operations., * Pre-Development Phase Support: Provide support for satellite projects from the pre-development phase up to spacecraft integration, working closely with project leaders and business development.
- Proposal Preparation: Assist in the preparation of proposals and evaluate subcontractor proposals to ensure the feasibility and success of projects.
- Concept Trades and Studies: Conduct assessments and evaluations of subsystem concept trades across feasibility and pre-development studies.
- System Requirements Analysis: Analyze system requirements and extract Navigation or Communication subsystem relevant requirements.
- Documentation and Specifications: Generate and maintain documentation, including analyses, specifications, test procedures, reports, and design descriptions.
- Subsystem Design and Configuration: Design and configure Navigation or Communication subsystems for satellite applications.
- Coordination and Collaboration: Coordinate technical aspects with customers, vendors, subcontractors, project teams, system engineering, and other divisions.
- Technical Presentations: Present work results internally and in front of customers.
- Test Concept Development: Develop test concepts and provide support during the test phase., As a System Engineer, you will be responsible for:
- Providing support for satellite projects from the pre-development phase up to spacecraft integration, working closely with project leaders and business development.
- Assisting in the preparation of proposals and evaluate subcontractor proposals to ensure the feasibility and success of projects.
- Conducting assessments and evaluations of subsystem concept trades across feasibility and pre-development studies.
- Analysing system requirements and extract Navigation or Communication subsystem relevant requirements.
- Generating and maintaining documentation, including analyses, specifications, test procedures, reports, and design descriptions.
- Designing and configuring Navigation or Communication subsystems for satellite applications.
- Coordinating technical aspects with customers, vendors, subcontractors, project teams, system engineering, and other divisions.
- Presenting work results internally and in front of customers.
- Developing test concepts and providing support during the test phase.
As a Team Lead of the System Engineers, you are the supervisor of the System Engineers. You will be responsible for:
- Monitoring proper execution of tasks assigned to the team
- People Management of the team:
- Managing the team skills and expertise in line with the company & project needs.
- Following up on career and personal growth through evaluations and individual training
- Facilitating communication and collaboration, in and outside the team
- Supporting the hiring of new colleagues
- On-boarding and mentoring/coaching
- Harmonizing the system engineering methodology and tools across all projects, in line with the relevant standards (e.g. ECSS)
- Ensuring the integrity, consistency and technological evolution of products and/or team specific competences in support of projects. This includes supporting business development and proposal activities with strategical insights on product roadmaps and the company's technical capabilities.
- Supporting the COO in close coordination with the other team leads in creating/maintaining balanced project teams, by taking into account skills, aspirations and availability of resources.
Requirements
We're seeking a commercially, entrepreneurial minded professional with a strategic view on business development and a passion and grit for making a difference. You'll be someone who builds trust naturally-with business relations, partners, and colleagues-and who thrives in a dynamic, high-tech environment. Experience in the space and security domain is a strong asset, but not a strict requirement., We believe great candidates come with diverse backgrounds and strengths. You don't need to tick every box-if you bring several of the following skills and are eager to grow, and love to thrive with state-of-the-art complex projects, we'd love to hear from you:
Technical & Domain Expertise (any combination is welcome):
- Familiarity with public tendering practices in ESA, EU, or defense organizations
- Experience in business development, ideally in radio communications, navigation, spectrum monitoring, radar, or related fields
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences (customers, stakeholders, technical teams)
- Understanding of technical and programmatic aspects of institutional programs, and the ability to create & identify opportunities aligned with Antwerp Space's activities
- Technical know-how in relevant domains, top level but not as an expert
- Fluency in English
Soft Skills We Value:
- Proactive and self-steering mindset with a "go-and-get-it" attitude
- Strong organizational skills, from early strategy development to structured planning and deadline management
- Excellent analysis & synthesis skills (of complex files to align customer needs with company capabilities
- Adaptable communication style for different stakeholders
- Fast learner with curiosity and drive, * Eligible for EU security clearance (EU citizen, or eligible for citizenship and residing in the EU for at least 10 years)
- Candidates currently living outside Belgium will only be considered if they are willing to relocate to Belgium before the start of their contract. Relocation is a prerequisite for employment., * We are seeking candidates with an exceptional technical background in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), specifically within the electro and electro-mechanical industries. Expertise in the space industry is essential.
Required technical competences
- Top-level knowledge of EEE is a critical requirement, with significant experience in this domain.
- Experience with ECSS standards, particularly ECSS-Q-ST-60C, is essential.
- Familiarity with the European Space Agency ECSS series of standards is preferred.
- Proficiency in English is required; knowledge of Dutch is an asset.
Expected soft skills
- Positive, problem-solving approach.
- Good customer relationship skills.
- Assertive personality to accomplish you goals towards suppliers, team members and customers.
- Ability to develop good knowledge in the different product assurance disciplines as required to manage the quality aspects in projects., · Master in HR, Business Administration, Social Law, or equivalent experience.
· Minimum 10+ years of HR Manager experience in Belgium, preferably in a technical environment.
· Strong expertise in Belgian labor law, payroll, social legislation, compensation & benefits.
· Analytical mindset with experience in HR reporting and budgeting.
· Fluent in Dutch and English (aerospace environment), and good knowledge of French.
Nice-to-Have:
· Experience in aerospace or another highly regulated industry.
· Knowledge of ISO/EN9100, safety regulations
· Experience with the R&D withholding tax mechanism (BELSPO)
· Experience with unions.
Personal Competencies
· Structured, analytic, detail-oriented, and reliable.
· Strong sense of confidentiality and ethics.
· Excellent communicator and stakeholder manager.
· Pragmatic, hands-on, and able to balance strategic and operational HR., * You have or will acquire an EU security clearance (EU citizen, or eligible for citizenship and living in the EU for at least 10 years).
- You have a Master's degree.
- You have at least 5 years of experience in a similar role in the space industry.
Technical Requirements :
- You have a proven track record in managing space project development.
- You have a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive knowledge and experience in space related to the managing of flight equipment or system development.
- You have the understanding of space mission operations.
- You are familiar with space-related procurement aspects.
- You have experience in managing user requirements and complex project risk management.
- You have experience in leading technical teams in hardware development.
- You have a demonstrated ability in project budget control and resource management.
- Additional experience in electronics, RF technology, embedded software and firmware development is a plus.
Soft Skills :
- You have strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
- You have a result-oriented mindset with a focus on achieving project objectives within strict deadlines.
- You can foster cooperation, build relationships and are continuously seeking improvement.
- You have a forward-thinking approach to anticipate and address project challenges proactively.
- You are eager to learn and you have a high level of responsibility and loyalty.
- You have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with fluency in English., * Master's degree in electrical engineering, communication engineering, or a comparable qualification. A PhD in a Navigation, Radar, or Communication topic is advantageous.
- Professional experience in phase B/C/D in Navigation, Radar, or Communication projects is an asset.
- Excellent communication skills with a high degree of flexibility.
- Team player who can work effectively both independently and in large projects.
- Experience in dealing with customers and vendors is advantageous.
- Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Willingness to travel., * Eligibility for EU security clearance (EU citizen, or eligible for citizenship and residing in the EU for at least 10 years)., * Master's degree in electrical engineering, communication engineering or a comparable qualification
- Professional experience as a multidisciplinary system engineer in Navigation, Radar, or Communication projects
- Able to work both independently and in large projects
- Experience in dealing with customers and vendors is advantageous
- Planning & organization skills
- Fluency in English; knowledge of Dutch is a plus
Mandatory Requirements
- Eligible for an EU security clearance (EU citizen, or eligible for citizenship and living in the EU for at least 10 years)
Benefits & conditions
- A multicultural environment. You'll be working in an international environment with colleagues from all over the world.
- A strong corporate culture. Our company is based on strong values: respect, trust, personal development and well-being.
- Professional development. You'll get the chance to learn, to share your expertise, to develop your skills and contribute to high-level, international projects in a high-tech environment.
- Salary package. A very attractive salary package including numerous fringe benefits. The main job location is Hoboken, though, short-term missions abroad are part of this challenging job environment.
Come and explore Antwerp Space
At Antwerp Space we treasure our human capital. From the moment you get on board until retirement, we will be at your side to make sure you feel at home and you get the chance to travel all the way through Antwerp Space, developing yourself and growing together.
As a company with a passion for innovation we want to create a dynamic, open and enriching environment for people, where people are passionate about their work and exchange ideas & expertise.
Moreover, we understand the need for a healthy working environment and we focus on the employee's well-being, offering amongst others fruit@work, ergonomic advice, and many other initiatives. We also focus on a good work-life balance, offering flexible working hours and additional holidays. Each year a number of events are organized to emphasize that it is important to have fun, relax and create a good team spirit., · A full-time or part-time (80%) position with a contract of indefinite duration.
· A competitive salary package, including a company car, group insurance, meal vouchers, a yearly bonus, * A multicultural environment. You'll be working in an international environment with colleagues from all over the world.
- A strong corporate culture. Our company is based on strong values: respect, trust, personal development and well-being.
- Professional development. You'll get the chance to learn, to share your expertise, to develop your skills and contribute to high-level, international projects in a high-tech environment.
- An attractive salary package including numerous fringe benefits. The main job location is Hoboken but if you prefer you can work a few days per week in our offices in Leuven and/or from your home. Short-term missions abroad are part of this challenging job environment.
Come and explore Antwerp Space
At Antwerp Space we treasure our human capital. From the moment you get on board until retirement, we will be at your side to make sure you feel at home and you get the chance to travel all the way through Antwerp Space, developing yourself and growing together.
As a company with a passion for innovation we want to create a dynamic, open and enriching environment for people, where people are passionate about their work and exchange ideas & expertise.
Moreover, we understand the need for a healthy working environment and we focus on the employee's well-being, offering amongst others fruit@work, ergonomic advice, and many other initiatives. We also focus on a good work-life balance, offering flexible working hours and additional holidays. Each year a number of events are organized to emphasize that it is important to have fun, relax and create a good team spirit., * A multicultural environment. You'll be working in an international environment with colleagues from all over the world.
- A strong corporate culture. Our company is based on strong values: respect, trust, personal development and well-being.
- Professional development. You'll get the chance to learn, to share your expertise, to develop your skills and contribute to high-level, international projects in a high-tech environment.
- Salary package. A very attractive salary package including numerous fringe benefits. The main job location is Hoboken, though, short-term missions abroad are part of this challenging job environment.
Come and explore Antwerp Space!
At Antwerp Space we treasure our human capital. From the moment you get on board until retirement, we will be at your side to make sure you feel at home and you get the chance to travel all the way through Antwerp Space, developing yourself and growing together.
As a company with a passion for innovation we want to create a dynamic, open and enriching environment for people, where people are passionate about their work and exchange ideas & expertise.
Moreover, we understand the need for a healthy working environment and we focus on the employee's well-being, offering amongst others fruit@work, ergonomic advice and many other initiatives. We also focus on a good work-life balance, offering flexible working hours and additional holidays. Each year a number of events are organized to emphasize that it is important to have fun, relax and create a good team spirit., * A multicultural environment: you'll be working in an international environment with colleagues from all over the world.
- A strong corporate culture. Our company is based on strong values: respect, trust, personal development and well-being.
- Professional development. You'll get the chance to learn, to share your expertise, to develop your skills and contribute to high-level, international projects in a high-tech environment.
- Salary package. A very attractive salary package including numerous fringe benefits, e.g. a company car. The main job location is Hoboken, though, short-term missions abroad can be a part of this challenging job environment.
Come and explore Antwerp Space
At Antwerp Space we treasure our human capital. From the moment you get on board, we will be at your side to make sure you feel at home and you get the chance to travel all the way through Antwerp Space, developing yourself and growing together.
As a company with a passion for innovation we want to create a dynamic, open and enriching environment for people, where people are passionate about their work and exchange ideas & expertise.
Moreover, we understand the need for a healthy working environment and we focus on the employee's well-being, offering amongst others fruit@work, yoga, ergonomic advice, and many other initiatives. We also focus on a good work-life balance, offering hybrid working, flexible working hours and additional holidays. Each year a number of events are organized to emphasize that it is important to have fun, relax and create a good team spirit.