Lead Project Manager Dual Use In-Orbit Services

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building innovative aerospace technologies that advance the future of space transportation. At The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable orbital vehicle designed to carry cargo and, in the longer term, humans. Nyx is being developed with the capabilities required for safe, reliable and repeatable rendezvous, proximity operations and docking, including missions to the International Space Station. Building on this heritage, our Future Projects activities are developing new orbital services and spacecraft applications for institutional, commercial and defence customers. We are 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. The successful candidate will combine strong spacecraft engineering understanding with a proven record of delivering flight hardware and managing demanding institutional and defence stakeholders. Key Responsibilities In your capacity as Dual Use In-Orbit Services Project Manager, your role will be continuously evolving, but day-to-day your duties will include: Lead the complete development of orbiters and associated in-orbit service capabilities for defence and dual-use missions, from mission definition and early concept studies 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 that critical path items and long-lead equipment are actively managed. Work closely with engineering and industrial teams to ensure the 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. What We Would Love to See from You In the role of Dual Use In-Orbit Services Project Manager, ideally, you will have the following: 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. Skills and Behaviors Fluency in English and German. Stro