Optics11 is a rapidly growing Dutch deep-tech company developing advanced fiber-optic sensing technology for critical infrastructure worldwide. Its solutions monitor subsea cables, energy assets and maritime installations, providing real-time insights in environments where traditional sensors cannot operate.

As Project Controller, you will be at the heart of this technically complex, project-driven organization. Working closely with project teams, senior management and the CFO and the other team members of the Finance team, you will provide the financial and risk insights needed to successfully manage international projects while contributing to the further professionalization and growth of the business.

In this role, you are responsible for financial oversight and control of strategic projects. You monitor budgets, forecasts, and expenditures, identify deviations and risks, and provide timely and reliable management reports. You support project managers in financial decision-making, prepare scenario analyses, and contribute to reporting for the Board of Directors or investors. This combination of analysis, oversight, and advisory makes you an essential link between execution and strategic decision-making.

You also play a key role in improving project control processes. This includes optimizing internal controls, streamlining reporting structures, and contributing to governance and compliance at the project level. You work hands-on in implementing systems and processes to ensure projects remain financially healthy and on schedule. You also coordinate with the accounting department and external parties such as auditors and consultants.

The project-based nature of Optics11 means you often work in parallel on multiple projects, each with its own technical and financial complexity. This requires a proactive and independent approach, where you maintain oversight, set priorities, and realize direct impact. You gain direct exposure to management and the opportunity to further professionalize the project control function while contributing to the scalability of the organization.

You thrive in a dynamic, international and technically complex environment where project control, financial oversight, and strategic support come together. You enjoy ensuring that projects are financially sound, on budget and compliant, while providing actionable insights to management and project teams. Hands-on and pragmatic, you are comfortable working with detailed operational data as well as higher-level scenario analyses. You take ownership, prioritize effectively, and can communicate confidently with stakeholders at all levels.

“You fit this role if you thrive on combining hands-on project financial control with strategic analysis, can manage complex projects across multiple locations, and enjoy building scalable processes that directly support the success of innovative, international initiatives.”

•    Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field ;
•    5–10 years of experience in project or business control;
•    Knowledge of revenue recognistion, the percentage of completion method; 
•    Experience working in project-driven environment such as the defense, offshore or the building/construction industry;
•    Experience with analysing and mitigating risks.
•    Excellent Excel modelling skills
•    Exposure to ERP systems and Project Managemnet systems. Exact Online experience is a plus.
•    Comfortable working in a fast-paced, international, multi-project environment;
•    Strong communication skills and ability to present information clearly to finance colleagues and operational stakeholders;
•    Hands-on, proactive, and able to take ownership of processes and results;
•    Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

In September 2022, the Nordstream explosions delivered a wake-up call that reverberated across every European capital: the vast network of subsea infrastructure that underpins our energy supply, data connectivity, and economic security is dangerously exposed. As geopolitical tensions and concerns around the security of subsea cables and pipelines continue to increase, safeguarding these vital networks has become a strategic priority for governments and industry alike. 

In recent years, the seabed security landscape is evolving rapidly and Optics11 has become a leading player in the rapidly evolving field of underwater infrastructure protection. At Optics11, they believe the foundations matter most: A sensing and monitoring layer that operates reliably for decades, that produces forensic-quality data, that integrates into any architecture, and that scales from a harbor to a coastline. That is the infrastructure on which everything else is built.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Optics11 has grown from a university spin-off into one of Europe's most innovative and fast growing deep-tech companies. Combining cutting-edge photonics, fiber optic sensing technology and advanced data analytics, the company develops intelligent monitoring solutions that help protect some of the world's most critical infrastructure. Its technologies are deployed across industries where reliability, precision and security are paramount, including defense, maritime and energy applications.

At the heart of Optics11's innovation lies a simple but powerful concept: “listening with light”. By leveraging highly sensitive fiber optic sensors, the company can detect acoustic signals and vibrations with exceptional accuracy. This enables customers to monitor assets in real time, identify anomalies at an early stage and respond proactively to potential threats or failures. Unlike conventional electronic sensors, Optics11's optical technology performs reliably in harsh environments, making it particularly suited for subsea, offshore and mission-critical operations.

Optics11's advanced sensing systems provide continuous monitoring of underwater environments, enabling operators to detect suspicious activity, unauthorized interference and potential sabotage before damage occurs. This technology contributes directly to the resilience of Europe's digital connectivity, energy infrastructure and national security.

Strategy – Venture Capital and investments
The company's focus on R&D and innovation has attracted significant international recognition. Optics11 has secured substantial growth investments from leading investors and received major financial backing from the European Investment Bank to accelerate the development and commercialization of its subsea monitoring technologies. Optics11 has secured significant growth financing, including venture capital from FORWARD.one, Value Creation Capital, SET Ventures and Join Capital and a €25 million venture debt facility from the European Investment Bank in 2026. These investments underline the confidence that both private capital and public institutions place in the company's vision, technological leadership and long-term growth potential.

Culture
Optics11 is an ambitious, R&D-driven scale-up with around 130 employees, expected to grow to approximately 180 by the end of 2026. The international team represents more than 30 nationalities, with an average age of 35, and includes many highly educated R&D specialists and an experienced commercial team. Together, they share an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for developing technologies that make a real-world impact. Innovation, curiosity and the willingness to challenge established technologies are deeply embedded in the company's culture.

The company operates at the intersection of research, engineering and commercialization, offering professionals the opportunity to work on technologies that are not only technically groundbreaking but also increasingly relevant in today's world. From safeguarding Europe's critical infrastructure and supporting defense capabilities to enabling safer offshore energy production, the innovations developed in Amsterdam have global reach and meaningful impact. 

Working at Optics11 means being part of an organization where advanced science meets entrepreneurship. Multidisciplinary teams of physicists, engineers, software developers and commercial specialists work closely together to transform scientific breakthroughs into practical solutions that solve real-world challenges. For professionals who are energized by technological innovation, international collaboration and the opportunity to help build a fast-growing deep-tech company, Optics11 offers an environment where expertise, ambition and purpose come together. It is a place where entrepreneurial thinking is valued, where complex challenges inspire innovation, and where every contribution helps shape the future of critical infrastructure protection.