Technical Manager Defense

At Materialise Manufacturing, we believe that revolutionizing industries starts with bringing ideas to life in smarter ways. If you’re passionate about helping customers turn concepts into high-quality parts, you’ll love being a part of this team. Through our digital manufacturing services, companies are accelerating the complete product development life cycle.

As Technical Manager for Defense, you will play a key role in building and strengthening our defense-related activities. You will be the technical expert within this domain, connecting market needs, customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and internal operational capabilities.

In this role, you ensure that our products, processes, and technical capabilities meet the specific demands of the defense market. You work across teams to translate customer and regulatory requirements into practical, compliant, and scalable solutions. By combining technical expertise with business insight, you help shape the segment portfolio, guide process improvements, and support strategic growth. This is a highly cross-functional position in which you collaborate closely with sales, engineering, production, quality, procurement, and compliance stakeholders.

What you will do

Technical and regulatory expertise in defense

• Act as the main technical reference point for defense-related technical, regulatory, compliance, and industry-specific requirements
• Interpret and translate information security, export control, and other defense-related requirements into compliant systems, processes, and ways of working
• Support commercial teams in understanding and assessing customer requirements, including classification, compliance, and technical feasibility
• Serve as the main point of contact for export license requests and related documentation with the relevant authorities
• Provide technical input during customer discussions, pre-sales activities, and project scoping

Process ownership and operational excellence

• Define and own the technical requirements needed to support efficient and compliant internal processes for the defense segment
• Establish and follow up on standardized workflows, methodologies, and procedures to ensure consistency, quality, and regulatory compliance
• Support and guide sales engineering teams by providing technical direction, coaching, and practical expertise
• Work closely with production and quality teams to define, validate, and improve required production capabilities, assets, and process standards in line with customer expectations

Portfolio and technology management

• Manage the defense segment portfolio and help ensure it remains aligned with market developments, customer needs, and internal capabilities
• Identify gaps between current capabilities and future market requirements, and contribute to the technical roadmap
• Lead or support the qualification and introduction of new products, materials, technologies, and processes into the operational environment
• Collaborate with external partners and suppliers to gather technical information, understand product roadmaps, and identify opportunities for improvement
• Evaluate the business and financial impact of introducing new technologies, products, or processes, together with business stakeholders

Cross-functional alignment and prioritization

• Maintain close collaboration with engineering, production, quality, and commercial teams to understand operational realities and technical constraints
• Assess technical feasibility and advise on capability fit, resource implications, and operational impact
• Support decision-making on priorities by balancing strategic opportunities, customer needs, compliance requirements, and internal capacity
• Contribute to backlog and roadmap prioritization together with business and operational stakeholders

Your profile

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, or equivalent relevant experience
• 5 to 10 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, industrialization, technical program management, or a related technical environment
• A strong understanding of technical processes, products, and industrial operations
• Experience with or affinity for regulated environments, preferably including defense, aerospace, manufacturing, export control, compliance, or information security
• Comfortable translating complex technical and regulatory requirements into practical solutions and workable processes
• Strong analytical skills and able to assess technical feasibility, weigh priorities, and make well-founded decisions
• A strong quality mindset and understanding of how to implement and maintain high standards in line with customer and industry expectations
• Able to work effectively across multiple stakeholders and influence teams without direct hierarchical authority
• Combine technical expertise with business understanding and are able to balance short-term operational needs with long-term strategic goals

What’s waiting for you

Work that matters

The technology we build at Materialise pushes the boundaries. You’ll find pride in building something that matters, whether you designed it, printed it, or shipped it. No matter your role, we unlock new possibilities to build a better and healthier world every day.

At Materialise, we expect you to think about the customer, not just the task. You push for better solutions and care about the difference your work makes.

A people-centered space

When you join Materialise, you join a group of colleagues invested in you, not just your work. From your own team to a department across the world, you’ll find a sense of belonging with people who help without being asked, challenge you, and have your back.

At the same time, we expect you to invest in the people around you - not just your own work - to make the group stronger than the sum of its parts.

An environment of trust

As a company of innovators, we know how crucial autonomy is in your work. When we hire you, we trust in your expertise, giving you space to organize your tasks, work flexibly, and make your own calls.

At Materialise, we expect you to deliver on that trust and keep your commitments.

A career ready to build

When you see opportunities for your career to grow at Materialise, we encourage you to go for them. People shape a fulfilling career at their own pace here.

At Materialise, we expect you to take initiative in your own development. Don’t wait for someone else to plan your career. Step into the space and make it count.

Make a difference together with the Manufacturing team.