Careers at the von Karman Institute: Construct the future together! Today, we are looking for a Senior Designer Engineer to complete our Design Office. Job Description As Deputy Design Office Manager, you support the Design Office Manager in the daily coordination, supervision, and quality assurance of design activities. You act as the primary point of contact for the Project Office and Faculty teams for the conceptual design of projects, particularly complex and large‑scale projects. You oversee design activities from feasibility studies to detailed drawings, ensuring the quality, technical rigor, and compliance of all deliverables. You also take an active role in meetings, reviews, subcontractor management, and advising internal stakeholders Key Responsibilities People management Acts as deputy design office manager, and as such manages the personnel of the design office, working on his/her projects, on a day-to-day basis (long term planning, setting priorities, deciding on extra work…) Organizational activities In cooperation with de DO Manager reports to the internal clients and participates to relevant meetings and reviews (Proposal Gates, Commitment Reviews, Design Office Kick-off meeting, Design Review meeting, Safety Meetings, according to the applicable procedures); Ensures the quality of designs and technical drawings before they leave the design office Advisory activities Acts as consultant and negotiates for design decisions in cooperation with the internal and/or external client and subcontractors (This includes advice on the choice of material, the machining policy (internal or outsourced), the need for strength calculations, etc.); Project & Proposal Management Keeps track of allocated design office budgets and sends out “early warnings” to project leaders in case of risk of overspending; Supervises/participates to the assembly and commissioning phase when required, for instance in the case of specific welding activities. Subcontractor Management Supervises the purchasing cycle of larger projects (from specification and negotiation to delivery and commissioning of parts) between VKI and the subcontractors in order to reach the project objectives (planning/costs/scope). Keeps the project leaders informed of the status; Job requirements Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering or equivalent experience. Minimum 7 years of experience in design activities, ideally including Fluid Dynamics research and people management responsibilities. Strong proficiency with design and computation software tools. Excellent knowledge of drawing conventions and layout standards. Strong expertise in machining/manufacturing techniques: Lathe, milling, welding, brazing, soldering, gluing, ALM Solid understanding of a wide range of materials Good knowledge of applicable technical standards, safety standards, and regulations. Ability to take initiative and propose innovative, practical design solutions. Proactive mindset, strong problem‑solving attitude, and good communication skills. Proficiency in one of the national languages (French or Dutch). Good command of English, both written and spoken. We offer A permanent full-time contract An attractive salary package, including pension-, hospitalization- and dental insurances, as well as other fringe benefits. A stimulating and challenging job Work with enthusiastic people driven by passion. A flexible working culture An international environment with students, as a research and educational institution Eligibility Criteria As the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone who meets the eligibility criteria below is encouraged to apply for this position. meet the requirements for the duties concerned. be a citizen of one of the VKI partner countries (see link): https://www.vki.ac.be/index.php/home-v16/eligibility Important: Please apply online, do NOT send your application by email. About the organisation For 75 years as an international centre of excellence in fluid dynamics, the von Karman Institute (VKI) brings together young engineers and scientists from all over the world to study, improve their skills and perform their research. “A scientist studies what is, whereas an engineer creates what never was “ Théodore von Kármán Besides its mission of education, the von Karman Institute gathers the top-level scientists and engineers to work on very challenging projects as the next generation of engines, new propulsion concepts, the new green energy, the safety of industry, solutions for a cleaner space, the Mission to Mars and many other fields of research which can make the difference for the humankind. Those scientists have access to more than 50 wind tunnels and test rigs, some of them unique in the world to help them in their projects. VKI is a team of people looking in the same direction, for a better future, not only scientists and engineers but also students, PhD candidates, PostDocs, IT, Human Resources, accountants, librarians, designers, and technicians and more Location: Close to Brussels @ Rhode-Saint-Genèse (Flemish-Brabant)