Director Engineering - Secure Communication and Information Systems

Director Engineering - Secure Communication and Information Systems

Thales

Ditzingen, Germany

Your mission as Director Engineering:

• Lead and develop an organization of highly skilled engineering professionals (300+) across two sites in Germany (Kiel and Ditzingen), fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation. You will guide multidisciplinary teams in the development of complex systems involving hardware, software, and systems engineering;
• Drive the engineering strategy for complex system development, including hardware, software, and integrated systems, in both national and international contexts;
• Structure and grow the engineering organization with a clear vision and operational discipline — aligning with both local needs and global engineering objectives;
• Guide and mentor a multidisciplinary engineering leadership team, ensuring alignment with program goals and long-term business objectives;
• Deploy and oversee the Group’s engineering transformation and competitiveness roadmap;
• Enhance organizational maturity by evolving engineering processes, tools, practices, and governance structures to support delivery excellence;
• Lead the digital transformation of engineering practices (automation, microservices architecture, digital continuity across the lifecycle), including the required cultural change;
• Anticipate skill needs and manage engineering resources across projects, ensuring the right capabilities are in place while promoting diversity, inclusion, and a culture of continuous learning;
• Represent the engineering function in group-wide strategic processes (10-Year Strategic Plan, multi-year budgeting, and Strategic Technology Plan);
• Drive process and performance improvements to support delivery of large-scale projects.

We are looking forward to:

• Educational background in Engineering (e.g., Electronics, Aerospace, Computer Science) or equivalent; Master’s degree preferred;
• We’re looking for a visionary leader with a strong industrial mindset, capable of delivering structure, scaling organizational capability, and driving transformation. is your opportunity to make a lasting impact;
• 10+ years of experience in engineering leadership roles;
• Proven track record in leading complex system development projects that integrate software, hardware, and systems engineering;
• Skilled in organizational development, capable of building and evolving engineering structures in a fast-paced, high-growth, and international environment;
• Strong grasp of engineering fundamentals, resource management, and project governance — ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and within scope;
• Demonstrated success working in matrix organizations and across international teams;
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills — capable of influencing across functions and levels;
• Industrial and strategic thinking mindset, with the ability to drive innovation and transformation in engineering practices.