About the Company
Our client is a leading European space and aerospace technology group, developing and delivering advanced satellite systems and mission-critical technologies for institutional and commercial customers.
The company is involved in complex European space and Defence programs, where technical excellence, reliability, security, and successful delivery are critical.
For a major program in the field of reconnaissance and early-warning systems, we are looking for an experienced (Senior) Technical Lead – Satellite Systems to take technical responsibility for a highly complex satellite system.
The Role
As (Senior) Technical Lead – Satellite Systems, you will take a central technical leadership position within a large-scale and highly complex European Defence and space program.
You will provide technical leadership to a multidisciplinary team of Systems Engineers and act as a key interface between engineering teams, Project Management, the customer, and external partners.
Working within a complex matrix organisation, you will be responsible for driving the technical direction of the satellite system — from system requirements and Systems Engineering processes through technical concepts, design oversight, development, and preparation for the initial operational phases.
You will act as a technical authority for the system, ensuring that technical objectives are achieved while balancing performance, quality, cost, and schedule.
This is a senior position combining deep technical responsibility, Systems Engineering leadership, customer interaction, and commercial awareness.
Your Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership to a team of Systems Engineers with defined responsibilities across the project
- Act as the key technical interface between engineering teams, Project Management, the customer, and external partners
- Define system requirements in coordination with Project Management
- Establish and maintain the Systems Engineering process and Systems Engineering Plan
- Define the organisation, responsibilities, and workflows between Systems Engineering, specialist engineering teams, technical departments, and Project Management
- Develop fundamental technical concepts and system solutions required to fulfil system requirements
- Work closely with Systems Engineers and specialist engineering teams to drive technical development
- Review, evaluate, and steer the ongoing system design and development
- Drive technical decisions and support the resolution of complex multidisciplinary engineering challenges
- Forecast and monitor technical performance, schedule, and cost
- Organise regular technical checkpoints and review progress against technical, schedule, and budget objectives
- Act as the technical authority for the system in the event of contractual changes
- Coordinate and initiate the implementation of agreed changes affecting the technical design
- Take responsibility for the technically correct and timely preparation of the system’s initial operational phases
- Potentially lead technical activities during these first operational phases
- Ensure effective technical communication, knowledge exchange, and collaboration across the project team, internal engineering departments, and external partners
Your Profile
- Master’s degree, Diploma, PhD, or comparable qualification in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline
- Extensive experience in technical concept development, system design, and Systems Engineering
- Relevant experience successfully delivering technically complex projects within a space program
- Strong understanding of the development of complex satellite or space systems
- Proven experience providing technical leadership to Systems Engineering or multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Ideally, experience with both functional/technical leadership and disciplinary management responsibility
- Ability to define and steer system requirements, technical concepts, system architecture, and engineering processes
- Strong ability to evaluate complex technical challenges and drive decisions across multidisciplinary teams
- Proven ability to motivate teams, delegate responsibilities, transfer knowledge, and build effective networks
- Strong commercial understanding, particularly regarding budget, schedule, quality, and technical performance
- Ability to effectively balance and prioritise technical performance, quality, cost, and schedule
- Strong customer and stakeholder orientation
- Excellent communication, negotiation, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills
- Flexible and solution-oriented approach when addressing complex technical challenges
- Confident working at the interface between engineering, Project Management, customers, and external partners
- Very good German and English language skills
Candidates with experience in technically complex space and satellite development programs are particularly relevant. Experience taking technical responsibility at system level and coordinating multiple engineering disciplines will be highly valuable.
What’s Offered
- A senior technical leadership role within a major European Defence and space program
- Technical responsibility for a highly complex satellite system
- Opportunity to work on advanced reconnaissance and early-warning systems
- A central role in defining and steering system requirements, technical concepts, design, and Systems Engineering processes
- High level of technical ownership and influence over key engineering decisions
- Leadership of experienced Systems Engineers and multidisciplinary technical teams
- Direct interaction with Project Management, major institutional and Defence customers, and external partners
- Opportunity to follow the system from development through to its initial operational phases
- Collaboration with highly experienced engineering and specialist technical teams
- Two possible locations: Bremen or Weßling (near Munich), Germany
- Hybrid working possibilities depending on project and operational requirements
- Long-term career opportunities within the European space, aerospace, and Defence sector
