The job

We are seeking an experienced and driven Business Unit Director to take on a vital role within our machine-building department. This position is a planned succession for our own Geert Haeve, who will retire in the course of 2027. A thorough and well-structured transition period is therefore essential, ensuring continuity of knowledge, customer relationships, and strategic leadership in this critical position.

As a key driver of our business, you will be responsible for securing a continuous and sustainable flow of projects by identifying and developing opportunities with both existing and new customers. You will lead the commercial process from early customer engagement through concept development, cost calculation and quotation, working in close partnership with the engineering team to deliver technically robust and commercially sound machine solutions.

You play a decisive role in the early design and concept phase, challenging customer requirements, assessing technical feasibility, and translating complex needs into innovative, competitive machine concepts together with your engineering team.

As a member of the management team, you carry end-to-end responsibility for the performance of our prototype machine-building activities. You contribute actively to defining the company’s strategic direction and hold full P&L responsibility. This includes overseeing cost calculations, budgets, margins, and commercial targets, as well as building and maintaining long-term strategic relationships with key customers.

You provide direct leadership to three senior professionals and exercise functional and operational oversight over an engineering department of approximately ten people, ensuring strong alignment between commercial objectives, technical execution, and project profitability. You report to the Managing Director.

Are you ready to step into a role with real impact, take ownership of a critical business function, and help shape the future of our growing company? We are ready to invest in a strong partnership and a successful transition, are you ready to make your mark? 'Cause we are ready for you!

About you

• You are a strategist with in-depth knowledge of engineering processes and are constantly exploring new opportunities. You closely follow market developments and stay alert to changes.
• You possess significant commercial flair. You can accurately assess people and situations, adapt accordingly, and gather teams around a common goal.
• You are a natural people manager; you know how to motivate and lead a team to success.
• Of course you possess strong analytical and communication skills, to translate and solve our complex technical challenges.
• You have extensive (at least 10 - 15yrs.) experience in the world of machine building and understand the complexity of our sector.
• You have solid experience with cost calculations, budgeting, margin management, price negotiations and P&L responsibility within a project-driven machine building environment.
• You are comfortable discussing machine concepts, system architectures, and design trade-offs at a conceptual level, without taking over detailed engineering tasks.

Offer

Join our team and enjoy a permanent contract, an attractive gross salary, fringe benefits, and a company car. You'll also get a project-based, challenging job with training opportunities, working alongside colleagues who share your passion for technology. You will operate in a senior, autonomous role with real impact on the commercial and strategic direction of NiniX.

We count on you to take responsibility and manage your own schedule. This motivation helps us grow the company together.

Ready for an exciting opportunity? Join us!

Send your CV to suzanne.pauwels@ace.eu

Who are we?

NiniX Technologies is a hands-on company in Bruges. As a recent part of ACE Belgium and the Brandfort group, we can say we are a healthy organisation, looking to continue our growth and professionalisation.

We are active in;

• Precision mechanical engineering: detailed design, construction, testing, hardware and software development and delivery of industrial automation projects for a variety of clients and applications.
• Electronics product development: inventing, testing, and validating designs, and finally producing electronics for challenging environments.

We take pride in our enthusiastic way of working together and do not just accept anyone – we want someone who truly fits our team! We all work together for a successful project and hope that you will join us soon!