Senior Project Manager
About this job
Optics11 is a fast-growing high-tech company based in Amsterdam, developing advanced fiber optic sensing systems for the most demanding environments. Our technology detects the earliest signs of failure in critical assets – from high-voltage energy infrastructure to subsea and defense applications – and gives our customers precise, real-time data they can act on. Within our Underwater Security business we develop sensing technologies that help detect and monitor underwater threats. Our solutions include OptiBarrier, designed for immediate, over-the-horizon threat detection, and OptiArray, our low-power optical thin-line towed array for unmanned underwater vehicles and submarines. The Role As we continue to scale, we are looking for a Senior Project Manager, who wants to drive real impact, taking products from concept to deployment. In this role, you will work at the intersection of New Product Introduction (NPI) and Field Integration, ensuring that what is developed by engineering teams can successfully operate in real-world, often offshore environments. You will play a key role in bridging the gap between development and deployment. This is a hands-on, execution-focused role in a fast-moving scale-up, where not everything is fully defined. You will need to balance structure with pragmatism, make decisions with incomplete information, and keep projects moving despite changing priorities. Responsibilities • Lead end-to-end projects covering product delivery (hardware and software) and field integration, including offshore deployment • Coordinate across engineering, operations, supply chain, and external partners to ensure smooth execution • Translate ambiguous goals and requirements into clear, actionable plans • Drive momentum and remove blockers in fast-moving, real-world environments • Support bid preparation by building realistic timelines and execution strategies, even with limited information • Identify gaps in ways of working and proactively improve processes across teams • Enable a learning-oriented project environment by sharing best practices and coaching others • Establish feedback loops between R&D and field teams to improve product and execution quality What we offer • Join one of Europe’s fastest-growing deep-tech scale-ups. • Real impact: your work directly shapes our growth and success. • A great team in an international organization with colleagues from more than twenty nationalities. • A competitive salary and benefits package. • 30 days of holiday per year. • Fresh team lunches five times a week, plus regular team activities and company events. Requirements • 5–8 years of project management experience in a technical environment • MSc degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, or a related field • Hands-on experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) projects is essential • Proven track record of delivering projects with real-world execution (not only planning) • Comfortable combining structured planning with hands-on operational involvement • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think in a structured way • Experience with offshore or field deployment projects is a strong plus • Able to make decisions and move forward with incomplete information • Clear communicator who can align technical (R&D) and operational (field) teams You will thrive here if you • Enjoy seeing projects come to life in the real world, not just in plans or presentations • Are comfortable navigating complexity, including on-site and offshore environments • Prefer progress over perfection and know how to balance speed with quality • Take ownership and proactively solve problems across both product and organization • Can switch between strategic thinking and hands-on execution with ease This role might not be the best fit if you • Prefer fully defined scope and stable environments before getting started • Rely heavily on rigid methodologies or extensive upfront planning • Have worked mainly on large-scale, highly structured capital projects with limited exposure to fast-paced product environments • Prefer to stay removed from operational or field-level challenges • Find it difficult to make decisions or move forward with incomplete information Screening You will work with clients in the defense and security sectors. Obtaining a Certificate of No Objection issued by the AIVD, the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service, is mandatory. This means you will need to undergo a security screening. We will explain the process and guide you through the applicable requirements.