Site Director

The Exploration Company; München; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company in Munich is seeking a Site Director to own safe, compliant, and efficient operations across our Munich sites, including integration halls, offices, labs, and test areas. You will report to the Lead Operations and lead vendors or hands‑on to ensure facilities reliability and smooth execution.

Candidates bring 5+ years of multi‑disciplinary site leadership in industrial or aerospace contexts, with hands‑on test experience, strong German EHS knowledge, and proven budget and

Qualifications

• 5+ years leading multi‑disciplinary site or test‑site operations in Germany.
• Experience planning and executing propulsion/engine or high‑energy tests.
• Strong knowledge of German EHS and DREAL regulations, ICPE experience.
• Hands‑on during test campaigns with clear, timely decision‑making.
• Familiarity with cryogenic/high‑pressure systems, instrumentation/DAQ, interlocks.
• Proven success delivering fit‑outs/commissioning and maintenance programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day test site operations: reception, goods‑in/out, utilities, waste, and tests.
• Plan and execute preventive/corrective maintenance; manage work orders and spares.
• Run fit‑outs/moves: PTW, risk assessments, safe commissioning.
• Manage leases and landlord relationships; track service charges.
• Coordinate inbound/outbound logistics including dangerous goods with partners.
• Implement the on‑site EHS system: chemical controls, PPE, regulatory registers.
• Own emergency preparedness: evacuation plans, drills, first‑aiders.
• Oversee physical security: access, CCTV, badges, guards.
• Implement export‑control safeguards per the Internal Compliance Program.
• Build and manage site OPEX/CAPEX budget; deliver projects on time.
• Provide records for audits, QMS expectations, ESG data.
• Lead and coach the test site team and vendors; communicate proactively.

Skills

Site leadership

Propulsion testing

Regulatory knowledge

Hands-on leadership

Cryogenics/Instrumentation

Maintenance/Commissioning

Budget ownership

Vendor negotiation

Project governance

Tools

CMMS tools

MS 365/SharePoint

Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building innovative aerospace technologies that advance the future of space transportation.

The operations team is looking for a Site Director (Germany) to own safe, compliant, and efficient operations across our sites in Munich (includes integration halls, offices, labs, and test areas). Reporting to Lead Operations, you will lead vendors or work hands‑on to deliver facilities reliability, compliant execution, and friction‑free activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day test site operations: reception, goods‑in/out, utilities, janitorial, waste, test site activities (together with the site manager and logistics responsible)

• Plan and execute preventive and corrective maintenance; manage work orders, spares, and service contracts to keep critical utilities running.

• Run office/lab/test‑area fit‑outs and moves: contractor pre‑qualification, risk assessments, permit‑to‑work (PTW), and safe commissioning in occupied areas.

• Manage leases and landlord relationships; track obligations, service charges, and issues to resolution.

• Coordinate inbound/outbound logistics, including dangerous goods with certified partners; ensure yard/dock safety and traffic plans.

• Implement the company EHS Management System on site (defined by the EHS Engineer): chemical and waste controls, PPE, and legal registers; drive incident reporting, root‑cause analysis, and corrective actions.

• Own emergency preparedness: evacuation plans, drills, first‑aiders/fire wardens, and liaison with local authorities as needed.

• Operate physical security: access control/badging, visitor management, CCTV, key control, and guard services.

• Implement export‑control physical safeguards (aligned with our Internal Compliance Program): controlled rooms/cabinets, visitor escorting, signage, and disposal procedures.

• Build and manage the site OPEX/CAPEX budget; run project stage‑gates, vendor SOWs, and change orders; deliver projects on time and on budget with as‑builts and O&M docs.

• Provide accurate records and reporting for audits, Quality Management System expectations, and ESG/B‑Corp data (energy, water, waste, recycling).

• Lead and coach the test site team and vendors; communicate proactively about works, outages, and changes.

Qualifications / Skills

• 5+ years leading multi‑disciplinary site or test‑site operations in Germany (industrial, aerospace, or high‑hazard environments).

• Proven experience planning and executing propulsion/engine or high‑energy tests (stand allocation, crew rostering, TRR/DR cadence, anomaly management).

• Strong knowledge of German EHS and DREAL environmental regulations (particularly with ICPE sites) and practical experience with contractor controls in hazardous operations.

• Comfortable hands‑on during test campaigns; disciplined communication and decision‑making under time pressure.

• Familiarity with cryogenic and high‑pressure fluid systems, instrumentation/DAQ, and interlock/safing concepts (you will not design these, but must govern readiness and safe operation).

• Demonstrated success delivering fit‑outs/commissioning, running maintenance programs, and closing audit actions.

• Budget ownership (OPEX/CAPEX), vendor negotiation, and basic project governance.

• Familiarity with QMS expectations (ISO 9001/9100), CMMS tools, and MS 365/SharePoint; basic ability to read/redline site drawings.

• Languages: German (native‑level) and English (professional working proficiency).

• Leadership: organized, service‑oriented, decisive; able to set expectations and coach teams and suppliers; willing to support off‑hours/weekend test ops when needed.

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?

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.