Head of Engineering

In today’s world of constant global security challenges, innovation in defense is no luxury. After years of budget cuts, military personnel needs to train and work with inadequate and insufficient equipment. We have an opportunity to change that.

At Intelic, we are a group of highly committed professionals building one of the fastest-growing start-ups based in Amsterdam. We create advanced software for unmanned systems in the Defence sector. As a software company at our core, we build intelligence that gives unmanned platforms the speed, coordination and reliability that critical missions demand. Our technology ensures that decisions are made with accuracy when it matters most.

Responsibilities

As Head of Engineering, you are the strategic and operational leader of our engineering department. We are scaling fast, and your biggest challenge will be to create structure, implement clear processes, and foster effective communication across our six multidisciplinary development teams. You’ll work closely with our team leads, guiding them to grow their teams, raise technical standards, and deliver on our product roadmap. It’s a role that blends big-picture thinking with hands-on technical depth, making sure our technology is reliable and ready for mission-critical use.

In practice, this means:

• Leading, coaching, and developing the leads of our six engineering teams (Frontend, Planning & Actions, Intelligent Sensing, Core Backend, Simulation, UXV).

• Designing, implementing, and optimizing software development processes (Agile/Scrum) to increase efficiency, predictability, and quality.

• Owning the technical vision and ensuring the architecture is robust and supported by a high-quality codebase.

• Encouraging effective communication and strong collaboration across all teams.

• Holding regular check-ins with team leads and supporting their professional growth.

• Acting as the link between leadership, product, and engineering to keep everyone moving in the same direction.

• Support performance management, conflict resolution, retention, and overall team well-being.

What You Will Bring

As a technical leader, you combine a clear strategic vision with the ability to dive deep into complex engineering challenges. You know how to guide teams through rapid growth, keep quality high, and create an environment where engineers do their best work.

You bring:

• Strong background in software engineering (experience with Rust is a plus)

• Proven experience leading multiple development teams and coaching team leads

• Track record of scaling engineering departments within a startup or scale-up

• Ability to challenge and inspire leaders on both technical and human levels

• Excellent communication skills and talent for aligning technical execution with business priorities

• Background in mission-critical or high-stakes software (defense, aerospace, robotics, etc.)

• Online presence showcasing engineering contributions (e.g., GitHub, Stack Overflow)

Our Tech Stack

• Backend: Rust (85–95%) & Python

• Frontend: Svelte, TypeScript, Tailwind

• Simulation: Unreal Engine 5

• CI/CD: GitHub Actions

• Containerization: Docker

What Success Looks Like in Your First Year

• Engineering Processes: Clear, scalable engineering processes implemented across all teams.

• Leadership Strength: Strong, high-performing team leads who are effective in their roles.

• Collaboration: Improved cross-team collaboration and communication.

• Team Health & Retention: Low attrition, high engagement, strong collaboration across the 6 teams.

• Technical Excellence: Clear architecture direction, reduced technical debt, improved code quality and robust testing practices.

Why join Intelic

• Talented Team: Collaborate with some of the brightest engineers and defense experts in the Netherlands.

• Scale-up Momentum: Join at a pivotal growth stage where you can help shape both the product and the company.

• Hands-On Testing: See your work in action through regular real-world field testing

• Meaningful Impact: Contribute to mission-critical technology that directly improves safety and effectiveness in defense operations.

• Innovation at the Core: Tackle complex engineering challenges and push the boundaries of autonomy in defense.

• Cutting-Edge Tech: Work with modern languages and tools, from Rust and Svelte to Unreal Engine, on deep-tech problems

What we offer

At Intelic, you will be part of an ambitious scale-up where teamwork, learning and impact drive everything we do. Growth happens quickly here, giving you the chance to take ownership and shape your career from the start. We build together and back our people with benefits that support life in and out of work.

Benefits & Perks:

• Salary including 8% holiday allowance

• 25 vacation days per year, based on full time employment

• Bike plan

• Sports membership

• Travel reimbursement

• Pension

We look forward to receiving your application and getting to know you. If you have any questions, please contact our recruiter Mitchell at mitchell@intelic.ai