Head of Systems Engineering

Mission

As Head of Systems Engineering within IBA Technologies Entity, you will report directly to the Head of R&D and lead a multidisciplinary team of around 25 people, including Systems Architects, Requirements Engineers, Verification & Validation Engineers, and System Owners.
You will take a leading role in the transformation of our engineering practices as our systems become increasingly complex. Your mission will be to shape and drive a renewed Systems Engineering approach, bringing greater structure, scalability, reliability, and traceability across the product lifecycle.
You will set the direction, translate the vision into concrete ways of working, and engage your team and key stakeholders in the transformation. This role calls for someone who combines strong Systems Engineering expertise with proactive and dynamic leadership, and who is comfortable navigating change, taking timely and thoughtful decisions, and challenging existing practices when needed.

Challenges we trust you with

- Shape and drive the Systems Engineering vision and roadmap, translating business and technology objectives into concrete frameworks, priorities, and ways of working.

- Lead the adoption and maturity of MBSE practices, including Polarion (Siemens), Enterprise Architect (Sparx), and SysML/UML, while establishing robust requirements, architecture, and lifecycle traceability.

- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of Systems Architects, Requirements Engineers, Verification & Validation Engineers, and System Owners, building the skills and ownership needed for the future.

- Oversee the end-to-end Systems Engineering lifecycle, from stakeholder needs and requirements to architecture, integration, verification, and validation.

- Strengthen engineering governance through clear requirements flow-down, architectural trade-offs, interface definition, configuration management, and change control.

- Define and drive the system verification and validation strategy, ensuring product readiness and compliance in safety-critical and regulated environments.

- Provide leadership on critical system and lifecycle topics, including technical escalations, non-conformities, root cause analysis, obsolescence, technical debt, and system roadmaps.

- Ensure continuity between legacy and future product generations, supporting interoperability, upgradeability, and long-term supportability.

What we value

- A Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, or a related field.

- 10+ years of experience in complex systems development, including at least 5 years in Systems Engineering leadership.

- Proven experience leading MBSE transformation initiatives, with tools and methodologies such as Polarion, Enterprise Architect, and SysML/UML.

- Strong knowledge of Systems Engineering lifecycle standards such as INCOSE, ISO/IEC 15288, and IEC 61508.

- Experience in safety-critical or regulated environments, such as industrial, medical, aerospace, or automotive. MBSA experience is an asset.

- Demonstrated ability to connect engineering strategy with business outcomes and turn a transformation vision into actionable priorities.

- Experience developing multidisciplinary teams and fostering talent, accountability, and performance.

- Strong communication and collaboration skills with R&D teams, customers, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders.

- Good communication skills in English. French is an important asset.

Cherry on the cake

- The opportunity to join a Belgian, B Corp certified company with strong growth ambitions.

- A strategic leadership position at the heart of the R&D engineering practices.

- Meaningful technical and organizational challenges, with the opportunity to have a tangible impact on how complex systems are designed and developed.

- A working environment that encourages autonomy, ownership, and collaboration.

- A pleasant and supportive work atmosphere, where people and teamwork matter.

- Flexibility and remote working possibilities, supporting a balanced way of working.

- The opportunity to contribute to an ambitious transformation while helping shape the future of Systems Engineering within the division.

Compensation package

The total guaranteed annual compensation range (which includes annual base salary, as well as flexible budget if applicable, and car budget in specific locations) for this position is provided below:

Total gross guaranteed annual compensation range: 95 500 – 145 300 € (Belgian employee contract)

The salary range indicated above is provided in compliance with applicable pay transparency requirements and reflects the typical compensation scope for this position based on the role's level of responsibility, required expertise, and location. The actual offer will be determined on an individual basis, taking into account objective and gender-neutral factors including relevant professional experience, qualifications, specific competencies, and internal equity. The range does not constitute a guaranteed salary and is subject to adjustment based on the final assessment of the selected candidate's profile. The role might also qualify for additional compensation elements such as variable pay, profit sharing, and benefits which are not reflected in this range.