Simera Sense is a leading global provider of high-performance space cameras and mission-critical imaging solutions. As they undergo rapid international growth and industrial scale-up, they are evolving their operations to meet the demands of global defence and commercial programs. Therefore they are looking for a COO.br / Functieomschrijving As COO, you are the executive owner of end-to-end execution across the Simera Sense Group operations, serving as the CEO’s natural second-in-command.br /You are responsible for translating high-level strategy into predictable, scalable execution while ensuring that industrial and operational systems are fit for sustained growth and rigorous investor scrutiny. In other words:br /ulliYou will lead and scale all operational functions - including supply chain optimization and resilience, assembly, integration, testing, and production - while translating company strategy into actionable operational plans, KPIs, and capacity roadmaps. /liliYou drive production throughput, yield, and quality across global sites by leading local Managing Directors and establishing a central Group Project Management Office (PMO) to ensure delivery predictability and cross-site coordination. /liliEnsure high performance and resilience across the global supplier ecosystem while maintaining rigorous quality assurance, compliance, and industrial discipline. /liliYou’ll serve as a permanent member of the Defence Programme Office (DPO) to enforce export control. Represent the company’s operational strengths to partners, investors, and institutional stakeholders. /liliAnd finally you lead the transition to a digitally integrated operating model using AI-supported tools and live reporting to establish an Industry 5.0 organization. /li /ulbr / Profiel ulliYou understand that a company is driven by its values, and as an executive leader you understand and accept that you have a key role to live out and also constantly help refine our binding values. /liliYou have a technical or engineering background, ideally complemented by an MBA or equivalent qualification. /liliYou are an executive leader with a hands-on approach and the authority to drive decision-making at the center of a fast-growing organization. /liliYou possess the strategic insight to navigate complex, regulated environments and the pragmatic discipline necessary to maintain quality during rapid scale-up. /liliYou have strong communication skills to align diverse cross-functional teams and represent the company effectively in high-stakes environments. /liliYou have 10 years of senior operational leadership experience within the aerospace, defence, or high-tech manufacturing sectors. /liliYou have a proven track record of scaling production, industrial operations, and supply chain systems in international settings. /liliYou have deep expertise in program execution, quality management systems, and operational compliance in mission-critical environments. /liliYou are willing and able to travel regularly to international sites, including South Africa, France, and the UK. This role is based in Leuven (Belgium). /li /ulbr / Aanbod ulliSimera Sense offers an entrepreneurial and high-authority role at the core of a global space-tech pioneer. /liliYou will join an international team where the culture is driven by innovation, digital integration, and the empowerment of people through intelligent systems. /liliA key position providing the autonomy to (re)shape the operating model of a Group that is positioning its European headquarters as the high-value core of its global footprint. /liliA core seat on the executive leadership team with delegated decision-making authority and the opportunity to act as the CEO’s proxy in critical operational, industrial, and program matters. /liliProfessional growth within an organization rapidly expanding from approximately 126 to 280 employees over the next three years. /li /ulbr /strongApplication information / questions /strongbr /br /To ensure a fair and streamlined selection process, candidates are required to strongapply solely via Hudson /strong. Surf to jobs.hudsonsolutions.com and apply online. br /All pre-application questions should also be addressed to Hudson. Please refrain from contacting Simera Sense directly regarding this role and contact Ing. strongCathy Champagne /strong via, senior business consultant at Hudson.br /Your response will be dealt with promptly and confidentially.br /br /