Wärtsilä is an innovative technology company known for being a forerunner in the Marine and Energy markets. Every day, we – Wärtsilians - put our hearts and minds into turning Wärtsilä's purpose of enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services into reality. Our ultimate aim is to provide increased value to both our customers and society. New, game-changing ideas and continuous improvement have been part of our DNA since 1834. Together, we can create new business opportunities and more sustainable future that we can all be proud of.
We want to transition the world towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. By pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology, we can make it work. We are always on the lookout for future-oriented talent – want to join the ride?
We are now looking for a Lead Engineer, Thrusters to join the Thrusters Product Development team.
Location: Drunen, The Netherlands.
What will you be doing?
You will be part of the Thrusters Product Development team, a dedicated team working on the development of new thruster products and the continuous improvement of the steerable thrusters, tunnel thrusters, retractable thrusters and underwater mountable thrusters in our product portfolio.
As a Lead Engineer, you’ll be at the heart of the design and development process. You are responsible to initiate and drive product development projects for our Thruster Product Platform, addressing technical and project management content as well as requirement management.
You won’t do this alone: you’ll collaborate closely with Mechanical Engineers and Technical Experts across our offices in Drunen (NL), Helsinki (FI), Trieste (IT), and Wuxi (CN). Besides, there is close cooperation with the Customer Order Engineering team, Product Management & Sales, Supply Management, Production, external engineering partners as well as suppliers.
What we offer:
- A collaborative environment - work with an experienced, international, and diverse team dedicated to advancing thruster technology.
- Work-life balance - take ownership of your work with the freedom and flexibility to maintain a healthy balance.
- Variety in your role - enjoy a wide range of tasks that keep your work dynamic and engaging.
- Growth opportunities - develop your skills through learning, mentorship, and career progression.
- Challenging projects - contribute to cutting-edge propulsion technology in a stimulating and ever-evolving environment.
Main responsibilities:
- You lead product development projects, in which either existing products in the thrusters product portfolio are improved, or new products are developed.
- You develop new technology and concepts based on customer or market intelligence and in accordance with our long-term product strategy.
- For each project, you define a project plan based on the allocated team members, timeline and budget.
- You are involved in several product development projects simultaneously, from concept development, making calculations and simulations, creating models and drawings into a production-ready product, and guiding suppliers and purchasing.
- You hold the design assurance responsibility and set priorities in tasks and activities for your project team members and external parties.
- You ensure designs for propulsion products comply with relevant specifications, class rules, and standards.
- You host design reviews with different internal stakeholders, like Technical Services, Supply Management and the Delivery Centre (factory).
- Transfer your knowledge and experience to others in the team and help securing knowledge in our Thrusters Knowledge Database.
- Report and present findings from designs, calculations, and analyses to project teams and stakeholders.
- Provide technical support during development, manufacturing and commissioning to ensure successful delivery to our customers.
- Stay up to date with industry developments and engineering advancements relevant to propulsion systems.
To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience in leading product development projects and project teams, planning and budgeting in an international matrix organisation.
- High attention to detail with a methodical and practical approach in problem-solving and decision-making.
- Experience in generating technical drawings and understanding manufacturing processes.
- You are experienced in NX or other 3D CAD systems and preferably worked with TeamCenter.
- You are a strong communicator and team player with good organisational and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication in English both oral and written.
- Ability to work effectively in an international organization.
- A positive, proactive attitude, with eagerness to learn.
- Teamwork skills, including flexibility and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
- Knowledge of the maritime industry is preferred.
Why you and us?
We at Wärtsilä believe in empowerment, ownership and taking responsibility of our work. We support each other’s growth, and co-creation is the true basis of our innovation. We have courage to see opportunities and take initiative.
We are authentic and honest, and we strongly believe in a diverse and inclusive work community where everyone can be their true self. We don’t always get it right the first time, and if mistakes are made, we make sure to learn and grow from them. We want everyone to voice their opinions freely. That is why we have built an environment that empowers you and everyone around you, and where you can feel safe and cared for. Are you eager to be part of this ambition?
We have a skilled team embedded in a professional internal and external maritime community. You will be working in close cooperation with other teams within our Business Unit Propulsion. Such as Hydrodynamics, Technical Services, Supply Management, Innovation and Project Management.
Contact & next steps
We hope to hear from you soon, by submitting your application through our career portal. We aim to keep you updated on the process throughout.
At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.
Last application date: 30/09/2026
At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.
Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.
