Senior Project Manager - In-Orbit Cryo Systems

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecraft for humanity.

Our Future Projects activities develop new in-orbit services and space systems for institutional customers, and we work with the European Space Agency (ESA) on a growing portfolio of programmes.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to plan, lead and deliver ESA-funded projects from proposal and early design through reviews, qualification and close-out, working closely with the Luxembourg team, our engineering teams, subcontractors and ESA.

This is a high-impact role for a space-systems project manager who can translate programme objectives into an executable plan and keep multidisciplinary teams aligned through demanding technical reviews. The successful candidate combines solid understanding of space system engineering with a proven record of delivering hardware and managing institutional stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

In your capacity as Senior Project Manager, your role will be continuously evolving, but day-to-day your duties will include:

• Plan, track and deliver assigned ESA projects: integrated master schedule, critical path, budget and resource plan, and work breakdown structure.

• Lead projects through the classical ESA/ECSS review cycle (SRR, PDR, CDR, QR, AR), including review packages, presentations, RID handling and close-out of each review.

• Own the scope and requirements baseline together with system engineering, including requirements flow-down, interfaces and configuration control.

• Translate ESA and programme objectives into clear system and work-package requirements, and ensure traceability down to subsystem level.

• Establish and maintain project organisation, milestones and decision gates, and drive disciplined issue resolution and change control.

• Coordinate project teams and their interfaces across system engineering, engineering disciplines, quality and product assurance, and procurement.

• Monitor procurement and supply-chain status, and actively manage critical-path and long-lead items.

• Manage subcontractors and partners through work-package hand-overs, deliverable acceptance and technical interface meetings.

• Own the budget of assigned projects, forecast cost to complete and report variances.

• Maintain the risk register and issue log, escalate decisions beyond project authority, and drive recovery plans when schedule or cost deviates.

• Ensure compliance with export control, product assurance requirements and TEC document standards.

• Act as the main point of contact for ESA and other institutional stakeholders, and prepare, present and close review item discrepancy (RIDs) and action items.

• Support the preparation of proposals and follow-on ESA opportunities.

What We Would Love to See from You

In the role of Senior Project Manager, ideally, you will have the following:

• Master's degree in aerospace, mechanical or a related engineering field, or equivalent experience.

• Typically 6 to 8 years of professional experience in the aerospace or space sector, including responsibility for project or work-package management and technical delivery.

• Proven experience managing the development of spacecraft, orbital systems or complex space subsystems through design, integration and test.

• Experience with classical ESA/ECSS review processes (SRR, PDR, CDR, QR, AR) and RID handling.

• Demonstrated delivery of hardware, including experience overseeing industrial or partner work through integration and test, qualification and/or ground demonstration.

• Experience managing industrial partners and subcontractors across several countries.

• Strong planning and cost control skills (schedule networks, earned value or equivalent, risk-based contingency).

Skills and Behaviors

• Fluency in English; and French an asset

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills

• Strong organisation and prioritisation of tasks

• Positive and flexible attitude to get the job done

• Ability to communicate at all levels of the business

• Demonstrates behaviours consistent with The Exploration Company's core values of Mission, Vision, Integrity, Excellence and Teamwork

• Space enthusiast: ready to change the global space industry

Why you should join us!

What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:  

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind 

• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them  

• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?  

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. 
 
The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.  


All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible.

If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.