Principal System Architect, Spectrum (m/f/d)

Isar Aerospace SE; Parsdorf; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Participation Program

30 days vacation

Company pension plan with 20% employer

Subsidised lunch

Rental clothing with laundry service

Sport clubs membership (EGYM Wellpass)

Individual learning allowance

Childcare allowance

Flexible mobility budget

And Much More!

Job summary

Isar Aerospace seeks a Principal System Architect for Reusability to lead the exploration of reusable-launcher design space and converge on a coherent vehicle architecture. You will guide analyses from specialist teams and make architecture decisions balancing performance, risk, operability and profitability.

Responsibilities include owning architecture, defining exploration strategy, leading cross-functional trades and communicating decisions clearly to engineering, operations, program and

Qualifications

• Extensive launch-vehicle architecture experience, including direct work on rocket development programs.
• Demonstrated experience with reusable launch vehicles, recovery architectures or reuse-driven vehicle design.
• Proven ownership of multidisciplinary architecture trades and high-impact design decisions.
• Deep understanding of reusable-launcher architectures, subsystem interactions and the dependencies connecting vehicle design, recovery and operations.
• Strong multidisciplinary knowledge across propulsion, fluids, structures, avionics, trajectory, production, logistics, launch operations and refurbishment.
• Ability to interpret integrated model outputs, judge their assumptions and limitations, and translate them into architecture decisions and targeted follow-on work.
• Sound systems-engineering knowledge, with strong judgement in lifecycle cost, operational economics and profitability trades.
• Decisive cross-functional leader who can challenge local optima, set direction under uncertainty and create alignment without relying on line authority.
• Clear strategic communicator across engineering, program and executive audiences.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.
• Experience shaping a launcher architecture during an early development phase (Bonus).
• Fluent German (Bonus).

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end architecture of the reusable launch vehicle, including its configuration, interfaces, operational concept and key dependencies.
• Define the architecture exploration strategy: structure the design space, select promising paths and determine where further analysis or testing is required.
• Lead multidisciplinary trades using inputs and model outputs from specialist teams; challenge assumptions, expose dependencies and resolve conflicting objectives.
• Drive architecture decisions and convergence, maintaining clear rationale, configuration baselines and priorities for the next exploration cycle.
• Balance vehicle performance and recovery with production, supply chain, logistics, launch operations, refurbishment, cadence, lifecycle cost, market demand and profitability.
• Align engineering, operations, program, finance and commercial stakeholders around the selected architecture and communicate decisions, risks and remaining trades clearly.

Skills

Launch-vehicle architecture

Reusable launch vehicles

Architecture trades

Launcher architectures

Propulsion

Fluids

Structures

Avionics

Trajectory

Production

Logistics

Launch operations

Cross-functional leadership

System-level thinking

Lifecycle-cost awareness

Strategic communication

German language

English language

Job description

Mission Brief

As Principal System Architect for Reusability, you will lead exploration of the reusable-launcher design space and drive convergence towards a coherent vehicle architecture. Using models and analyses developed by specialist teams, you will identify the most valuable design paths, direct further investigation and make architecture decisions that balance performance, development risk, operability, lifecycle cost and profitability.

Your Role in Our Space Mission:

• Own the end-to-end architecture of the reusable launch vehicle, including its configuration, interfaces, operational concept and key dependencies.


• Define the architecture exploration strategy: structure the design space, select promising paths and determine where further analysis or testing is required.


• Lead multidisciplinary trades using inputs and model outputs from specialist teams; challenge assumptions, expose dependencies and resolve conflicting objectives.


• Drive architecture decisions and convergence, maintaining clear rationale, configuration baselines and priorities for the next exploration cycle.


• Balance vehicle performance and recovery with production, supply chain, logistics, launch operations, refurbishment, cadence, lifecycle cost, market demand and profitability.


• Align engineering, operations, program, finance and commercial stakeholders around the selected architecture and communicate decisions, risks and remaining trades clearly.

Qualification Checklist

• Extensive launch-vehicle architecture experience, including direct work on rocket development programs.


• Demonstrated experience with reusable launch vehicles, recovery architectures or reuse-driven vehicle design.


• Proven ownership of multidisciplinary architecture trades and high-impact design decisions.


• Deep understanding of reusable-launcher architectures, subsystem interactions and the dependencies connecting vehicle design, recovery and operations.


• Strong multidisciplinary knowledge across propulsion, fluids, structures, avionics, trajectory, production, logistics, launch operations and refurbishment.


• Ability to interpret integrated model outputs, judge their assumptions and limitations, and translate them into architecture decisions and targeted follow-on work.


• Sound systems-engineering and configuration-management knowledge, with strong judgement in lifecycle cost, operational economics and profitability trades.


• Decisive cross-functional leader who can challenge local optima, set direction under uncertainty and create alignment without relying on line authority.


• Clear strategic communicator across engineering, program and executive audiences.


• Fluent English, both written and spoken.

Bonus Skills

• Experience shaping a launcher architecture during an early development phase.


• Fluent German.

Benefits

• Employee Participation Program: Share in our success through our virtual company share program


• 30 days of vacation: Enjoy the days off to relax and recharge


• Company pension plan: Secure your future with our company pension plan, featuring a 20% employer contribution after the probation period


• Subsidised lunch: Stay energised with delicious, subsidised lunches every day


• Rental clothing with laundry service: Enjoy hassle-free workwear with our convenient rental clothing and laundry service


• Sport Clubs membership: Stay fit with our sponsored sports club memberships (EGYM Wellpass)


• Individual learning allowance: Grow your skills with an individual learning budget granted after the probation period


• Childcare allowance: Receive a childcare allowance for your non-school-age children


• Flexible mobility budget: Travel your way with a choice between a fully financed Deutschlandticket, JobRad bicycle leasing, FINN JobAuto, or a fuel allowance


• And Much More! Discover additional perks and benefits when you join our team

Who we are

We are Isar Aerospace and we are at the forefront of New Space building a modern space business to enable faster, better and cheaper access to space.

Our mission is to help democratise space and use it for good in order to improve life on Earth now and for the future generations.

We are a fast-growing company aiming to provide sustainable and environmentally friendly launch solutions for small and medium-sized satellites and constellations into Low Earth Orbit. The company is privately funded by world-leading technology investors with strong commitment and support and our team is made of driven and talented people with a real passion for space innovation.

We're making rockets in a way that hasn't been done before disrupting a traditional industry. If you are up for the challenge, want to work on cutting-edge projects and be part of a team changing the world for better, come, join us and launch your career!

Want to find out more about us?

Visit www.isaraerospace.com

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Disclaimer

Isar Aerospace SE is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fairness and inclusivity. We do not prioritize any specific religion, gender, nationality, or background. Due to security clearance requirements, affiliations with countries listed under § 13 para. 1 no. 17 SÜG may affect the application process. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.