SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
The Exploration Company is seeking an experienced Dual Use In-Orbit Services Project Manager to lead the complete development and delivery of orbiters for defence and dual-use applications. This is a high-impact role for an experienced spacecraft project manager who can translate customer needs into executable programmes and lead multidisciplinary teams from early concept and proposal phases through design, qualification, launch, commissioning and operations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead the complete development of orbiters and associated in-orbit service capabilities for defence and dual-use missions, from mission definition through qualification, launch, commissioning, flight and operations
- Translate customer objectives and operational needs into clear mission, system and programme requirements
- Establish and maintain the project baseline, including scope, schedule, budget, resources, technical performance and quality objectives
- Define the project organisation, work breakdown structure, milestones, reviews and decision gates
- Drive disciplined decision-making, issue resolution and change control throughout the project lifecycle
- Ensure successful delivery against commitments in terms of technical performance, schedule, cost, quality and customer satisfaction
- Monitor industrialisation, procurement, manufacturing and supply-chain activities, ensuring critical path items and long-lead equipment are actively managed
- Work closely with engineering and industrial teams to ensure timely delivery of flight and ground hardware, software, documentation and operational products
- Act as the main point of contact for institutional and defence customers throughout the project lifecycle
- Support and lead the preparation of proposals, responses to Invitations to Tender, Requests for Proposals and other business opportunities related to defence and dual-use in-orbit services
- Coordinate and lead multidisciplinary teams across programme management, systems engineering, spacecraft engineering, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality and business functions
The successful candidate will combine strong spacecraft engineering understanding with a proven record of delivering flight hardware and managing demanding institutional and defence stakeholders.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Master's degree in aerospace engineering
- Typically 10 or more years of professional experience in the aerospace or space sector, including substantial responsibility for project or programme management and technical delivery
- Proven experience leading the end-to-end development of satellites, orbiters, spacecraft or complex space systems
- Demonstrated delivery of flight hardware, including experience through integration and test, qualification, launch preparation and/or in-orbit operations
- Established customer-facing experience, ideally including direct interaction with DLR, the German Federal Ministry of Defence or comparable institutional and defence organisations
- Fluency in English and German
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Strong analysis and problem-solving skills
- Strong organizing and prioritization of tasks
- Positive and flexible attitude to get the job done
- Ability to communicate at all levels of the business
