R&D - Head of System

Mission

At Ion Beam Applications (IBA), we develop advanced particle accelerator technologies used in industrial markets for applications such as materials modification, sterilization, and water traetment. The Industrial Solutions Division is a key innovation engine within IBA, delivering high-value, technically complex systems to global customers.

As we scale and innovate, we are transforming our engineering processes through a renovated Systems Engineering  approach to manage increasing complexity and ensure long-term system scalability, reliability, and compliance.

The Head of Systems Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the systems engineering strategy across the division. You will lead team in charge of the development and implementation of system methodologies, tools, enabling requirements, architectures, integration and associated system ownership that drive product excellence, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional collaboration.

This role blends technical mastery, strategic vision, and leadership excellence, and is central to the success of our product development and delivery.

Challenges we trust you with

• Strategic Leadership & Vision

Develop and champion the systems engineering vision and roadmap aligned with IBA’s business and technology objectives.
Translate business goals into actionable engineering frameworks; drive Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) adoption using Polarion and Enterprise Architect.

• Organizational Leadership & Talent Development

Lead, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary team (systems architects, requirements engineers, system owners, V&V engineers).
Foster a high-performance, learning-driven culture and support professional development and succession planning.

• Systems Engineering Execution

Oversee the systems engineering lifecycle: stakeholder analysis, requirements, architecture, integration, and verification.
Develop modular system/subsystem architectures and ensure robust allocation of functionality and clear interface definitions.
Define and refine key quality attributes including safety, reliability, maintainability, and performance.

• Requirements & Architecture Governance

Ensure clear, traceable flow-down of system requirements; implement structured reviews of architecture and design trade-offs.
Drive full lifecycle traceability and rigorous model development using MBSE tools.

• Integration, Verification & Compliance

Define verification and validation strategies using multiphysics simulators, factory-level and field integration.
Guarantee regulatory compliance and readiness for safety-critical applications.

• Configuration & Change Control

Establish robust configuration management and change control practices, maintaining regulatory and safety alignment throughout the product lifecycle.

• System Ownership & Lifecycle Support

Oversee non-conformity resolution, technical support, and escalations for critical system issues.
Lead root cause analysis, implement corrective actions, and manage product roadmaps, obsolescence, and technical debt.
Ensure seamless alignment between legacy and future systems for interoperability and long-term support.

What we value

• Master’s in Systems Engineering, , Electrical/Mechanical or computer science Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in complex systems development, with at least 5 years in systems engineering leadership roles.
• Proven success in leading MBSE transformation initiatives, including tool deployment (Polarion, Enterprise Architect, SysML/UML).
• Strong knowledge of system lifecycle standards (INCOSE, ISO/IEC 15288, IEC 61508, etc.).
• Background in safety-critical, regulated environments (industrial, medical, aerospace, automotive etc.). MBSA is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to align engineering strategy with business outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders, including R&D teams, customers, and regulatory bodies.
• Experience building, developing, and leading large multidisciplinary teams. A proven track record of fostering talent, driving performance, and leading teams to execute complex projects.

• Good communication skills in English. French is an important asset.