Hardware engineering Lead

About the role

At Futurewave, we bring strategy, design, engineering and tech together to help ambitious companies launch innovative products. To reinforce our engineering capability and prepare for our next phase of growth, we’re looking for an Engineering Lead to take full ownership of how engineering is executed across projects and squads.

This role blends hands-on execution with strategic leadership: initially, you’ll be directly involved in delivering engineering missions. Over time, your influence will expand as we grow the engineering pipeline, the supplier network and the internal team.

You will act as the technical reference, quality gatekeeper and process owner for all engineering activities. Ensuring we deliver with rigor, clarity and excellence. You’ll also play a key role in representing Futurewave’s engineering capability externally, building credibility with clients, partners and the broader ecosystem.

Mission of the role

To ensure the smooth execution of engineering missions across Futurewave and safeguard technical quality, process discipline, and supplier alignment—from day one to production.

Why this role exists:

Without this role, Futurewave would lack:

• A leader to own engineering quality and delivery
• A connector between product strategy, design intent, and manufacturability
• A builder of repeatable, high-performing engineering processes
• A trusted reference to scale engineering operations with confidence
• A public-facing advocate for our engineering credibility and thought leadership

Key responsibilities

Engineering execution & quality

• Lead the engineering scope on active client missions
• Deliver robust technical solutions on time and within scope
• Monitor and elevate quality across deliverables and reviews

Supplier coordination & Product interface

• Interface with manufacturers, suppliers, and production partners
• Manage technical relationships and troubleshoot production ramp-up issues

Process & Capability building

• Improve internal engineering workflows and quality standards
• Own and evolve engineering templates, checklists, and review steps
• Contribute to the definition and deployment of scalable practices

Team leadership & Growth

• Act as the engineering lead within cross-functional squads
• Support hiring, onboarding, and mentorship of future engineers
• Represent engineering in cross-team governance and rituals

Thought leadership & Visibility

• Represent Futurewave’s engineering expertise in client meetings and events
• Contribute to building trust and attracting new clients through technical credibility
• Help position Futurewave as a studio that delivers with depth and precision

Tools & Systems

• CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Inventor)
• ERP (Odoo)
• Project documentation, supplier management systems, DFM workflows

Key responsibilities success indicators

• Client satisfaction
• Technical quality at delivery
• Time-to-delivery
• Adoption of improved processes
• Credibility of Futurewave's engineering offer in the market

What success looks like (6-12 months)

You are recognized as the go-to person for engineering clarity and delivery. You’ve shaped how engineering is executed at Futurewave. Your credibility has helped attract new technical missions, and you’ve laid the foundation for a growing, high-performing engineering team. You are increasingly seen as a public-facing advocate of Futurewave’s engineering capability, both internally and externally.

Profile & Experience

• Master’s degree in Engineering (mechanical, electromechanical, or related)
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing technologies (metal, plastics, electronics, etc.)
• Prior exposure to electromechanical product development in consulting, agency or product company
• Comfortable working at the interface of design, production, and client delivery

Mindset & Skills

• Hands-on and rigorous: you care about doing things well, not just fast
• Structured and proactive: you take ownership and bring clarity where needed
• Builder of systems: you enjoy improving the way things are done
• Strong communicator with designers, project leads, and external partners
• Comfortable taking the stage as a representative of engineering excellence

Languages

• English is required
• French and/or Dutch are strong assets

What we offer

• A pivotal role with real ownership and company-wide impact
• A collaborative environment where engineering sits at the heart of product thinking
• The opportunity to grow into a strategic leadership position, with strong autonomy and influence
• The possibility to evolve into a partner role if you help us grow in the right direction
• A fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with creative energy and meaningful work
• A flexible, open culture based in Zaventem