Head Of Engineering & Technical Operations em Braga, Portugal

Head of Engineering & Technical Operations

Company

BASEYARD is building a next-generation industrial ecosystem for defence and dual-use technologies in Portugal. Our mission is to help advanced technology companies industrialise, manufacture, and scale unmanned systems, mission-critical platforms, electronics, and integrated defence technologies.

As an advanced manufacturing and industrialisation hub, BASEYARD supports customers throughout the product lifecycle—from engineering and prototyping to industrialisation, serial production, supply chain management, testing, and global delivery. Our expertise spans unmanned aerial, ground, surface and underwater systems, electronics, embedded technologies, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.

We are looking for an experienced and hands-on Head of Engineering & Technical Operations to build and lead BASEYARD's technical organisation in Braga, Portugal.

Role Description

This is a full-time, on-site leadership position based in Braga, Portugal.

The Head of Engineering & Technical Operations will be responsible for building and leading BASEYARD's technical organisation, covering R&D, New Product Introduction (NPI), Technical Project Management, IT, and Technical Support.

The role will oversee technical execution across customer projects and BASEYARD's internal technology development, ensuring that projects are technically structured, effectively managed, and successfully transferred from development and prototype stages into industrialisation and production.

The successful candidate will combine strong engineering leadership with project management and operational capabilities and will play a central role in developing BASEYARD's long-term technical capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead BASEYARD's Engineering & Technical Operations organisation from the ground up.
• Lead and coordinate R&D, NPI, Technical Project Management, IT, and Technical Support functions.
• Establish engineering processes, technical governance, project management methodologies, and technical standards.
• Lead technical evaluation and onboarding of new customer projects.
• Assess customer products, technical maturity, documentation, requirements, risks, and readiness for industrialisation.
• Coordinate New Product Introduction (NPI) from initial technical assessment through prototype, pilot production, and transfer to Operations.
• Ensure effective technical coordination between customers, Engineering, Production, QHSE, Supply Chain, and external partners.
• Establish and lead Technical Project Management processes covering scope, requirements, milestones, resources, risks, deliverables, and technical changes.
• Ensure customer technical projects are delivered according to agreed scope, schedule, quality, and technical requirements.
• Lead BASEYARD's internal R&D activities and development of proprietary technologies and products.
• Define R&D priorities, technology roadmaps, technical concepts, and development programmes aligned with company strategy.
• Coordinate internal and external engineering resources, technology partners, universities, research organisations, and development suppliers.
• Support joint R&D projects, technology partnerships, research consortia, and EU or national funding programmes.
• Establish technical documentation, configuration management, requirements management, and engineering change processes.
• Develop and manage technical support capabilities for customers, production teams, and deployed products where applicable.
• Coordinate troubleshooting, technical investigations, root-cause analysis, and resolution of complex technical issues.
• Define and oversee BASEYARD's IT infrastructure, engineering systems, cybersecurity requirements, and technical software environment.
• Support implementation and integration of ERP, PLM, MES, engineering tools, collaboration systems, and technical data management solutions.
• Ensure appropriate management and protection of technical data, intellectual property, controlled information, and customer documentation.
• Support Business Development with technical assessments, customer meetings, proposals, RFIs, RFQs, and feasibility studies.
• Participate in customer design reviews, technical reviews, project reviews, and production readiness reviews.
• Build, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary engineering, project management, IT, and technical support teams.

Scope

The Head of Engineering & Technical Operations may be responsible for:

• Research & Development (R&D)
• New Product Introduction (NPI)
• Technical Project Management
• Customer Technical Projects
• Product & Technology Development
• Systems Engineering
• Technical Support
• IT & Engineering Systems
• Technical Infrastructure
• Engineering Documentation
• Requirements Management
• Configuration & Change Management
• Technical Data Management
• Technology Partnerships
• R&D Consortia & Funded Projects
• Engineering Tools & Software
• Technical Customer Support
• Technology Roadmaps

The Head of Engineering & Technical Operations will work closely with Plant Management, QHSE, Supply Chain, Business Development, Finance, and Executive Management.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Electronics, Mechatronics, Aerospace, Robotics, or a related technical field.
• Proven leadership experience in engineering, R&D, technical operations, technical project management, or technology development.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and complex engineering projects.
• Strong understanding of product development from concept and prototype through NPI and industrialisation.
• Experience managing multiple customer or internal technical projects simultaneously.
• Strong project management capabilities, including scope, schedule, resources, risks, requirements, and deliverables.
• Ability to understand complex multidisciplinary systems combining hardware, electronics, software, communications, and mechanical components.
• Experience establishing engineering processes, documentation, configuration management, and technical governance.
• Understanding of modern IT and engineering systems and their role within a technology and manufacturing organisation.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, engineers, suppliers, research partners, and management.
• Strong leadership and people development skills.
• Practical, hands-on mindset with the ability to build teams and processes from the ground up.
• Good English communication skills are required.

Nice to Have

• Experience in defence, aerospace, robotics, or dual-use industries.
• Experience with UAV, UGV, USV, UUV, autonomous systems, or mission-critical technologies.
• Experience with electronics, embedded systems, sensors, communications, AI, autonomy, or software-intensive products.
• Experience establishing an R&D or engineering organisation from an early stage.
• Experience leading NPI and transfer of technology into production.
• Experience managing external engineering and technology development partners.
• Knowledge of PLM, ERP, MES, requirements management, and engineering collaboration systems.
• Understanding of cybersecurity and protection of sensitive technical information.
• Knowledge of defence industry standards, export control, and controlled technologies.
• Experience with EU-funded R&D programmes, defence programmes, or international research consortia.
• Experience managing intellectual property and technology transfer activities.

What Success Looks Like

• BASEYARD's Engineering & Technical Operations organisation is successfully established and scalable.
• R&D, NPI, Technical Project Management, IT, and Technical Support operate through clear and effective processes.
• Customer technical projects are structured, managed, and delivered according to agreed requirements and milestones.
• New products transition effectively from development and prototype stages through NPI into production.
• BASEYARD develops a clear technology roadmap and builds proprietary technical capabilities over time.
• Technical documentation, requirements, configuration, and change management are systematically controlled.
• IT and engineering systems effectively support the company's technical and manufacturing operations.
• Technical issues are resolved efficiently and customers receive strong technical support.
• BASEYARD develops a high-performing multidisciplinary technical organisation capable of supporting multiple customers, products, and R&D programmes.

What We Offer

• A key leadership role in building one of Europe's next-generation defence and dual-use industrial platforms.
• Opportunity to build BASEYARD's engineering and technical organisation from the ground up.
• Direct involvement in R&D, NPI, customer technology programmes, and advanced product development.
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge unmanned systems, electronics, AI, robotics, and advanced technologies.
• High level of ownership, autonomy, and technical influence.
• International working environment with ambitious growth plans.
• Opportunity to grow together with BASEYARD as the company expands across Europe.
• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Health insurance after probation period.
• Accident insurance from the first day of employment.
• Professional development opportunities and continuous learning.
• Corporate events, team activities, and additional employee benefits.

Our Process

• Application review
• Screening call with HR
• Interview with Hiring Manager
• Practical task
• Final conversation
• Offer