Senior Launch Operations Systems Engineer

Alt; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top-decile compensation packages

Equity / stock options

Relocation support including flights,移

Lunch, dinner and drinks provided

Free company housing

Job summary

Alt, a Germany-based rocketry startup, seeks a Senior Launch Operations Systems Engineer to design and develop the operational systems, processes, infrastructure, and partnerships necessary to launch products safely and reliably.

You will define launch operations across our portfolio from small launch motors to orbital vehicles, including platforms, ground-support equipment, facilities, people, suppliers, authorities, and stakeholders, driving make-or-buy decisions and procurement.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in systems engineering, project management, launch operations, live-fire testing, or other safety-critical and high-consequence operations.
• Experience developing operational concepts, procedures, requirements, compliance processes, and readiness activities for complex technical systems.
• Proven ability to manage multidisciplinary projects involving engineering, operations, facilities, suppliers, contractors, and external authorities.
• Experience with make-or-buy decisions, technical procurement, vendor evaluation, contract support, or development of new operational infrastructure.
• A strong understanding of safety-critical operations, system interfaces, operational risk, and the practical requirements of ground-support and launch systems.
• A Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related discipline; equivalent practical experience may also be relevant.

Responsibilities

• Define the launch-operations concept, system architecture, roles, interfaces, facilities, ground-support equipment, launch platforms, and operational processes required for safe launches.
• Develop launch procedures, operational concepts, checklists, requirements, compliance processes, and nominal and off-nominal scenarios across all phases of launch operations.
• Lead the associated projects and work packages, managing scope, schedules, risks, dependencies, budgets, procurement, and operational readiness.
• Perform make-or-buy analyses and lead the evaluation, selection, and procurement of vendors, equipment, facilities, and potential launch platforms.
• Coordinate internal teams, suppliers, contractors, authorities, regulators, and other stakeholders to resolve interfaces and deliver an integrated launch capability.
• Plan and support training, simulations, mission rehearsals, readiness reviews, launch campaigns, lessons learned, and improvements to launch turnaround times.

Skills

Systems engineering

Project management

Launch operations

Safety-critical operations

Vendor procurement

Make-or-buy decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physics

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Launch Operations Systems Engineer to design and develop the operational systems, processes, infrastructure, and partnerships required to launch our products safely and reliably.

You will define how launch operations work across our portfolio of products, from small rocket motors to larger, orbital launch vehicles including the launch platform, ground-support equipment, facilities, people, suppliers, authorities, and external stakeholders. You will lead the surrounding technical and commercial work, including make-or-buy decisions, vendor procurement, and the assessment, leasing or acquisition of launch platforms.

About us

We’re a Germany-based rocketry startup currently in stealth mode, scaling up rapidly to meet the demand for high-performance, reliable, and scalable solid propulsion technologies for space and defense applications.

We are already launching suborbital and ballistic rockets on a regular basis, generating significant revenue and applying our knowledge toward the development of an orbital rocket.

We are working hard to build something truly spectacular.

To thrive here you will need to be comfortable working at pace, with the autonomy to make decisions and execute on them quickly. If you’re excited by hard technical challenges and want a role where you will make a real difference each day to the future of the company, we may be the place for you.

At our company, job titles and career progression are earned, not determined by years of experience alone. They reflect the responsibility you take on and the dedication you bring to each project. If you’re ready to rise to the challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities

• Define the launch-operations concept, system architecture, roles, interfaces, facilities, ground-support equipment, launch platforms, and operational processes required for safe launches.

• Develop launch procedures, operational concepts, checklists, requirements, compliance processes, and nominal and off-nominal scenarios across all phases of launch operations.

• Lead the associated projects and work packages, managing scope, schedules, risks, dependencies, budgets, procurement, and operational readiness.

• Perform make-or-buy analyses and lead the evaluation, selection, and procurement of vendors, equipment, facilities, and potential launch platforms.

• Coordinate internal teams, suppliers, contractors, authorities, regulators, and other stakeholders to resolve interfaces and deliver an integrated launch capability.

• Plan and support training, simulations, mission rehearsals, readiness reviews, launch campaigns, lessons learned, and improvements to launch turnaround times.

What we are looking for

• Significant experience in systems engineering, project management, launch operations, live-fire testing, propulsion testing, or other safety-critical and high-consequence operations.

• Experience developing operational concepts, procedures, requirements, compliance processes, and readiness activities for complex technical systems.

• Proven ability to manage multidisciplinary projects involving engineering, operations, facilities, suppliers, contractors, and external authorities.

• Experience with make-or-buy decisions, technical procurement, vendor evaluation, contract support, or the development of new operational infrastructure.

• A strong understanding of safety-critical operations, system interfaces, operational risk, and the practical requirements of ground-support and launch systems.

• A Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a related discipline; equivalent practical experience may also be relevant.

Desirable experience

• Launch-vehicle operations, rocket or missile launches, propulsion test campaigns, live-fire testing, or high-consequence aerospace operations.

• Solid rocket motor systems, launch ranges, test facilities, ground-support equipment, or temporary launch infrastructure.

• Experience working with regulators, government agencies, range authorities, safety organisations, or other external approval bodies.

• Training, simulation, mission rehearsal, console operations, operational-readiness assessments, or competency-management processes.

• Familiarity with systems-engineering methods, requirements management, configuration control, safety cases, or regulated engineering environments.

Benefits and important information:

• We offer top-decile compensation packages, bonuses and meaningful equity, to attract exceptional aerospace talent.

• Every employee is awarded stock options in the company, you will directly benefit from your own hard work and success.

• Comprehensive relocation support including flights, shipping and visas.

• Lunch, dinner and drinks provided everyday

• Free access to shared company housing

Please note, we are a fast paced, hyper-scaling startup. You will need to be comfortable working extended hours with high levels of autonomy, ownership, and flexibility, with contracts structured around a 48-hour working week.

We are committed to building an equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, has equal access to opportunity, and can thrive. We welcome different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences—and believe our differences make us stronger.