Lead Systems Engineer - Low Observability Shaping & Materials

Who we are

Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.

As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.

We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.

The role

We are looking for a Systems Engineer specializing in Low Observability (LO) Materials and Shaping. You will join a diverse team of specialists working on complex challenges in the defence space. You will apply your expertise to ensure our air vehicles achieve critical survivability requirements through advanced material integration and structural shaping.

The day-to-day

• Develop radar cross-section (RCS) and infrared (IR) material concepts for air vehicles and integrate them into the overall structural concept.

• Create and execute a technology maturation roadmap for low observability materials and supplier components.

• Develop RCS and IR concepts for supplier parts (including antennas, air data systems, and EO/IR windows) in collaboration with suppliers, and initiate relevant development activities.

• Direct and oversee supplier and testing activities for RCS and IR performance.

• Execute iterative air vehicle shape optimization in coordination with partners (including Grob) and suppliers to refine RCS and IR calculations.

You should apply if you

• Hold a relevant degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.

• Have 8+ years of professional experience in systems engineering, with a focus on low observability, RCS/IR materials, and structural integration.

• Understand electromagnetic theory, radar cross-section reduction techniques, and infrared signature management deeply.

• Have a proven track record of leading supplier development and testing programmes.

• Are a first-principles thinker who values accountability, integrity, and respect.

• Have Eligibility for national security clearance (due to the sensitive nature of defence work).

• Speak fluent English; additional proficiency in German is a strong advantage.

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.

Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields

• Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns

• The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world

• Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward

• In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts

• We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about

What we offer

• Competitive salary and VSOP options

• Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation

• Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance

• Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health)

• Social: regularly company events and monthly social allowances

• Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers.

• Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work

These are the core benefits across all locations, there may be additional benefits in certain locations.

Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.

Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.