Lead Engineer

Lead Engineer, Mechanical - Thrusters PDM & Portfolio Maintenance 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 looking for a Lead Engineer, Mechanical to join our Product Data Management & Portfolio Maintenance team in Drunen (The Netherlands). In this role, you will be at the center of design, lifecycle management, and continuous improvement of our global Thrusters product portfolio. As Lead Engineer, Mechanical - Thrusters PDM & Portfolio Maintenance, you are accountable for the technical integrity, lifecycle readiness, and continuous improvement of the thruster portfolio. You will lead portfolio maintenance and ensure high-quality, reliable product data and configurations that enable efficient engineering, manufacturing, and service delivery. You will lead standardization and digitalization initiatives, strengthen data-driven engineering practices, and improve efficiency across the product lifecycle. In this role, you act as a key interface between Product Development and Project Engineering, ensuring product readiness, fast decision-making, and strong cross-functional alignment across global stakeholders. Your Key Responsibilities • Maintain the mechanical design integrity and technical performance of the assigned thruster product portfolio • Ensure products and configurations are accurate, up to date, and compliant across the full lifecycle over different product groups • Review and approve mechanical designs, 3D models, and engineering drawings for accuracy, completeness, and compliance • Ensure high-quality product structures, configurations, and documentation • Ensure reliable and consistent product data, enabling efficient engineering, manufacturing, and service delivery • Lead and coordinate portfolio maintenance activities • Safeguard lifecycle readiness across different product groups (updates, improvements, phase-in/phase-out) • Collaborate with production locations and Technical Services to evaluate nonconformities and implement quality improvements • Lead or contribute to technical projects and cost optimization initiatives • Define project teams, establish project plans, and ensure structured follow-up • Set priorities and coordinate activities for team members and external partners • Ensure timely and high-quality execution in a matrix organization • Act as the link between Product Development and Project Engineering where technical support and product readiness is to be guaranteed in a fast and agile manner • Collaborate closely with manufacturing, service, and engineering stakeholders • Publish and present technical findings to validate findings, support decision-making, and reinforce engineering credibility • Drive continuous improvement, standardization, and modularization initiatives • Benchmark and implement best practices across teams and locations • Standardize workflows to improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability • Promote a data-driven engineering culture within the team • Enable usage of digital tools (PLM/PDM, scripts, dashboards) to reduce manual effort and improve efficiency • Mentor engineers and support capability development within the team for sustainable long-term competence growth • Encourage knowledge sharing and continuous learning across the organization Your Qualifications • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical / Marine Engineering or a related field • Knowledge of the maritime industry or system integration is considered an advantage • Minimum 5-8 years of experience in a comparable engineering, product, or portfolio role • Experience with 3D CAD tools (e.g., NX) and familiarity with PLM/PDM systems such as Teamcenter • Strong attention to detail with a structured and practical approach to problem-solving and decision-making • Proven experience in leading projects and project teams within an international matrix organization • Experience in project planning, coordination, and budgeting • Strong organizational and analytical skills with the ability to prioritize and deliver results • Strong interest in automation and continuous improvement, with a focus on eliminating repetitive work • Experience in data visualization and dashboards • Experience with programming or scripting (e.g., Python, VBA, Excel macros) to automate engineering workflows • Familiarity with leveraging digital and AI tools in engineering environments is preferred • Strong communicator and team player with the ability to collaborate across functions and locations • Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken. Key Competencies • Structured and quality-focused mindset • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills • Effective stakeholder management and communication • Ability to work in global and cross-functional teams • Proactive and ownership-driven mindset Why Join This Role • Opportunity to shape and maintain a critical thruster product portfolio • Exposure to global stakeholders across engineering, manufacturing, and service • Drive digital transformation and data-driven engineering practices • Contribute to innovation, cost optimization, and lifecycle excellence We hope to hear from you soon, by submitting your application through our careers portal. We aim to keep you updated on the process throughout.