Software Engineer Mission, Simulation & Training Systems

About this position

As a Software Engineer within the Mission Simulation & Training department, you will work together with your colleagues to turn innovative solutions into reality for the Ministry of Defence and other clients in the security domain. As part of a multidisciplinary project team, you will develop solutions to a wide range of customer challenges. Examples include developing a cloud-based simulation environment, extracting 3D models from geographical big data, and building post-exercise analysis tools. Interested in learning more? Read on! We are looking for multiple colleagues to strengthen our team.

What will be your role?

The innovative nature of the work at TNO ensures a great deal of variety in both the topics and software you work on. This diversity challenges you and your colleagues to continuously seek the best solution for a specific problem.

In practice, you and one or two colleagues within the project team are responsible for translating innovative ideas and concepts into working software solutions. You have the freedom to use the latest technologies and frameworks as you see fit. Depending on the project, you may develop a prototype to demonstrate the potential of a new technology, while at other times you could find yourself on board a naval frigate or in a flight simulator, integrating your software into a test environment.

As a research institute, we typically do not develop end products intended for operational production systems. Instead, we aim to valorize promising projects and ideas and transfer them to clients or commercial parties for further development. The experimental nature of our work also means that not all software you develop reaches this final stage; sometimes it is created solely to answer research questions or to support knowledge development and innovation.

What we expect from you

You want your work to contribute meaningfully to innovation in the defence domain and you handle sensitive information responsibly. You enjoy working on multiple projects simultaneously and collaborating with different teams. This also means that you are comfortable dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity. Gathering requirements and participating in brainstorming sessions with stakeholders are part of your shared responsibilities, as in a research environment the scope of your work is not always clearly defined from the outset. Defining the problem statement and understanding the project context are therefore key elements of your role. This gives you significant freedom as a developer, but also a high degree of personal responsibility and the need for strong communication skills. As a result, you are flexible in your approach and able to take on different roles within the software engineering process. At one moment, you may focus primarily on architecture and design, while at another you may be more involved in stakeholder management or in testing and validating systems.

Thanks to your proactive mindset and strong communication skills in both Dutch and English, you are well equipped for this. You are eager to further develop yourself as a software developer and architect, while also enjoying supporting and mentoring new colleagues in their professional growth.

What else do you bring?

• Preferably a completed university Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Information Science, or a related technical discipline, although we welcome candidates with other backgrounds as well.
• Preferably a recent graduate or someone with a few years of relevant experience in software development, ideally in multiple programming languages. You set high standards for the quality and security of the code you develop and apply a structured and methodical approach. You are able to explain complex systems by sketching them on a whiteboard.
• Knowledge of and experience with multiple modern programming languages (for example Java, Python, C++, C#, TypeScript, Rust, Go) and modern software tools (for example Docker, Kubernetes, GitLab).
• You are capable of reading and understanding technical documentation for network protocols, APIs, and (IEEE/IETF) interoperability standards.
• You are able to develop and deploy both backend and frontend applications end-to-end, making use of modern tools and techniques. Git, CI/CD, unit testing, and issue tracking are all familiar to you.
• Experience in, or affinity with, the defence and security domain is considered a strong advantage.
• You have excellent commandment of the Dutch language both verbally and in writing (C1 level).

In your motivation letter, we would like to read about:

• Your knowledge and experience in software design or architecture.
• Your personal contribution to software quality in a recent project.
• A recent challenging problem that you solved through teamwork.
• How you approached requirements analysis and stakeholder management in a recent project.

What you'll get in return

Challenging and varied work with a real impact. And plenty of opportunities as, at TNO, you are in charge of shaping your career. We offer a gross monthly salary between € 3,500,- and € 4,500,- (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13^th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180). In addition, you will be given every opportunity to develop yourself.

Perhaps you would like to grow your career in the direction of commerce or consultancy? Or would you like to become a project manager? Immerse yourself in sustainable innovations? Or carve out a career as a technical expert?

TNO offers optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation. You may also expect:

• An extremely professional, innovative working environment where colleagues are leading experts in their field.
• The opportunity to attend courses, workshops and conferences, and to receive training and coaching based on your needs.
• 33 days annual leave plus a flexible holiday that can be used on a cultural, religious, or otherwise important day of your choosing (on a full-time basis).
• An employer working towards a respectful, inclusive, and equitable work environment where every employee can flourish, with various initiatives such as Jong TNO, numerous expertise based guilds, Rainbow Community and Round Tables on diverse inclusion topics.
• We offer a comprehensive and flexible mobility plan that also includes full compensation for public transportation for commuting and business travel.
• Great social events with your team and other TNO colleagues. That’s how you will get to know a lot of people really quickly.
• Flexible working hours, the possibility to work parttime (32 or 36 hours) and the possibility of working from home.
• A good pension scheme.

Read more about tailoring your benefits package.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.

At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.

The selection process

Please apply before the 29th of August, 2026. The selection process comprises two interview rounds. The preliminary interview takes place on the 9th of September, 2026. In a final meeting we will discuss the terms of employment and your tailored benefits package. We aim to finalize the entire process within four weeks.

The selection process may include a programming/coding assignment, an online assessment and a reference check.
A certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required before starting a new job at TNO.

As you will be working for clients in the domain of defence and security, a Certificate of No Objection issued by AIVD (the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service) is mandatory. This means you will have to undergo a security screening. Read more about security screening.