The posting
Job description
Team & Reporting Line: Program Management Team | Reports to Lead Project & Procurement Manager
Our Mission
At constellr, we use thermal intelligence from space to understand what is happening on Earth - where, when and at scale. Our satellite constellation delivers high-resolution land surface temperature data, giving governments, defence organisations, commercial operators and global institutions the intelligence they need to monitor change, assess risk and make better-informed decisions.
From national security and critical infrastructure to agriculture and climate resilience, constellr turns temperature into actionable intelligence for a changing world.
Your Role
We are seeking an experienced Project & Procurement Manager to strengthen our Program Management function, with a strong focus on institutional, government-backed, and publicly funded programs, particularly within the German and broader European space ecosystem.
This is a pivotal role in constellr’s next growth phase. You will ensure excellence in program execution and procurement within a highly regulated, stakeholder-driven environment. Working at the intersection of engineering, supply chain, and public institutions, you will help deliver satellite programs that meet the highest standards of quality, compliance, and reliability, aligned with German and European institutional expectations.
Key responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate complex satellite programs, with a strong emphasis on institutional and government-funded initiatives (e.g., DLR, ESA, national programs).
- Ensure end-to-end program execution excellence, including schedule, cost, risk, and quality management, in line with institutional and defence-grade standards (e.g., ISO/AS9100).
- Develop and implement scalable procurement strategies compliant with public procurement regulations and governance frameworks.
- Build, manage, and strengthen strategic supplier relationships, with a focus on the German industrial ecosystem.
- Lead contract negotiations and placements, balancing commercial objectives with institutional and regulatory requirements.
- Serve as a key interface with external stakeholders, including agencies, prime contractors, and public partners.
- Enhance internal processes to ensure auditability, traceability, and compliance typical of government-backed programs.
- Support future satellite generations by aligning procurement and partnerships with long-term institutional roadmaps.
Job requirements
About you
Required:
- 5+ years of experience in project and procurement management within institutional, government-backed, or publicly funded programs.
- Strong experience within the German space, aerospace, or high-tech industrial ecosystem (e.g., DLR, ESA programs, prime contractors, or major suppliers).
- Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs with high governance and compliance requirements.
- Solid understanding of public procurement processes, contractual frameworks, and regulatory environments.
- Experience in satellite manufacturing, integration, or testing environments is highly desirable.
- Strong negotiation skills in structured, high-stakes environments.
- Confidence engaging with senior institutional and governmental stakeholders.
- Fluent German (mandatory) and excellent English communication skills.
- Spacecraft industry experience required; aerospace or automotive backgrounds may be considered.
- Strong familiarity with the German market and experience working with German customers, partners, or public-sector stakeholders is an advantage.
Why join constellr?
- High-Impact National Security Mission: Be part of an ambitious mission to launch the world’s first commercial thermal infrared constellation, delivering sovereign-grade "behavioural" intelligence from space to close critical blind spots for defence, intelligence, and maritime surveillance agencies.
- Fast-Paced "New Space" Innovation: Work at the leading edge of a rapidly evolving defence sector. By leveraging modern, agile New Space methodologies, you will help design, build, and deploy dual-use thermal payloads into operational orbit at a speed and scale that traditional aerospace models simply cannot match.
- Broad Interdisciplinary Exposure: Accelerate your professional growth by collaborating daily with a diverse, international cohort of astrophysicists, software developers, and defence-system engineers.
- Inclusive & Scientific Culture: Join a high-trust team deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and scientific excellence, where academic curiosity is paired with high autonomy and a flat hierarchy.
- Financial Upside & Well-being: Benefit from a Virtual Share Option Plan (VSOP) for permanent employees, giving you a true stake in the company's growth, alongside highly flexible hybrid working models.
