Design & Proposal Engineer Defence & Security

As Design & Proposal Engineer in Damen's Defense & Security Product Group, you translate customer needs into technically feasible vessel concepts and compelling proposals. You collaborate with Sales, Tender Management, Product Specialists and engineering stakeholders to craft ship designs, specifications, scope, cost inputs and delivery-time estimates during tender phases. You help shape competitive, engineering-driven bids and, depending on experience, may lead concept development or optimize existing designs. This role offers growth across international, multidisciplinary teams and a chance to impact complex government-vessel opportunities.

• salary in line with Metalektro collective agreement
• dynamic international environment
• 27 vacation days plus 13 ADV days
• Damen Academy for professional development
• social network and events within Damen Group
• pension scheme participation

• Translate customer, market and tender requirements into vessel concepts and proposal designs in line with Damen standards
• Prepare and maintain ship designs, technical specifications, scope descriptions, assumptions, exclusions and proposal documentation
• Calculate cost price elements, assess technical feasibility and provide input on delivery time, planning and commercial decisions
• Support Sales and Tender Management with technical input, presentations, clarifications and proposal reviews during bidding
• Collaborate with Product Specialists, Research, Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Services and other stakeholders to develop complete proposals
• Optimize standard and customer-specific designs to improve quality, reliability, functionality, competitiveness and manufacturability
• Identify technical risks, interfaces, deviations and trade-offs for internal decisions and customer discussions
• Contribute to proposal handovers, lessons learned, product improvements and standardization of the portfolio
• Ensure proposal activities adhere to Damen governance, HSSEQ, ethics, export-control, compliance and approval processes

• A completed technical education, preferably in Shipbuilding, Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering or a comparable discipline
• Experience in ship design, naval architecture, proposal engineering, product development or similar technical environment
• Open to junior, medior and senior candidates
• Affinity with complex vessels, defense and security markets, governmental customers and engineering-to-order projects
• Good understanding of customer requirements, technical trade-offs, design standards, cost awareness and proposal processes
• Experience with ship design tools; knowledge of 2D and/or 3D design tools is an advantage
• Ability to couple technical accuracy with commercial awareness and customer focus
• Strong English communication skills; Dutch is an advantage
• Structured, proactive and collaborative mindset; ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Willingness to travel occasionally

• customer-oriented
• structured
• proactive
• ship design tools (2D/3D)
• cost estimation and planning
• technical feasibility assessment