Senior System Engineer (ISOS Host)

The-Exploration-Company; München; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company seeks a Senior System Engineer on ISOS Host to define the system-level architecture for a robotic orbital station. You will own key technical directions, oversee trade-off analyses, and collaborate with experts and external partners to enable in-space operations and services.

The role emphasizes strong communication and leadership across disciplines. You will shape development plans, maintain functional decompositions, and drive reviews with customers.

Qualifications

• Must have proven experience in space systems engineering including system-level requirements, decomposition and trade-off analysis.
• Hands-on involvement in early development phases (Phase 0/A/B) of space projects.
• Experience leading or coordinating technical work across disciplines and external partners or customers.
• Strong written and oral communication across all levels of the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead system-level trade-offs and make recommendations.
• Define and ensure flow-down of system-level requirements.
• Create and maintain functional breakdowns and product trees.
• Shape development plans and coordinate work across engineers.
• Lead co-engineering sessions with external partners and track actions.
• Create and manage technical budgets, including mass and power.
• Organise technical reviews with the customer and manage RID data.

Skills

Space systems

Trade-off analysis

Requirements definition

Cross-functional

Education

MSc in aerospace engineering

Job description

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

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecraft for humanity. Our Future Projects unit conceptualises and pre-develops new technologies, products and programmes.

As a Senior System Engineer on ISOS Host, you will lead the system-level definition of a robotic orbital station that supports the in-space operations and services ecosystem. The station will unlock the resupply of satellite parts and propellant and enable complex robotic-assisted in-orbit experiments. You will own key system-level decisions and set the technical direction for the team, working closely with specialist engineers and external partners.

What You'll Do

• Lead system-level trade-offs and technical investigations, and own the resulting recommendations.
• Define system-level requirements and ensure flow-down and consistency to lower-level requirements.
• Define and maintain the functional breakdown of the system, including functional, specification and product trees.
• Shape the development plan and coordinate technical work across specialist engineers, linking schedule to tasks and deliverables.
• Lead co-engineering sessions with external partners: set agendas, drive decisions, take minutes and track actions.
• Create and maintain technical budgets, including mass and power.
• Lead the organisation of technical reviews with the customer, including datapack definition and delivery and management of Review Item Discrepancies (RIDs).

What We're Looking For

Must-have

• Proven experience as a space systems engineer, including system-level requirements definition, functional decomposition and trade-off analysis.
• Hands-on experience in early development phases (Phase 0/A/B) of space projects.
• Experience leading or coordinating technical work across disciplines and with external partners or customers.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate at all levels of the business.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to organise and prioritise competing tasks.
• Advanced degree (MSc) in aerospace engineering, systems engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Fluent in English.

Behaviours

• Delivers results: commits to clear outcomes and follows them through to completion.
• Gives and receives feedback: gives direct, constructive feedback early and openly, and actively seeks and acts on feedback, including critical feedback on their own work.
• Extreme ownership: takes full responsibility for outcomes, including problems outside their direct remit. Raises risks early and drives fixes rather than waiting for direction.
• A positive and flexible approach to getting the job done.
• Enthusiasm for space and an interest in shaping the European space sector.

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.

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.