Technical Project Manager - Space Domain Software (m/w/d)

Okapiorbits; Braunschweig; Hybrid; EUR 90.000 - 125.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Flexible work hours

30 days vacation and workation

Bahncard

Hansefit / Wellpass membership

Free drinks & snacks

Bikeleasing

Company pension scheme

Zusammenfassung

Okapiorbits in Germany seeks a Technical Project Manager in Space Domain Software who blends hands-on engineering with strategic leadership. You will lead a small engineering team, manage key customer projects, and contribute to flight dynamics, SSA/SST, and mission operations.

You will guide software development, drive end-to-end delivery, work with satellite operators and institutional partners to refine requirements, and translate operational needs into system features while growing strong

Qualifikationen

• M.Sc. or higher in Aerospace/Space Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related field.
• Approx. 5 years coordinating or leading space-domain projects.
• Experience driving full lifecycle software development and customer alignment.

Aufgaben

• Lead the design, development, and operation of space systems and software.
• Manage a small engineering team and ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
• Lead discussions with satellite operators and institutional partners.
• Translate mission requirements into implementable system features.
• Drive proposals, strategic initiatives, and roadmap development.

Kenntnisse

Project management

Team leadership

Customer engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

CI/CD

Software engineering

Ausbildung

M.Sc. or higher in Aerospace/Space Engineering

Tools

Orekit

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Jobbeschreibung

Your mission

We are looking for a Technical Project Manager in Space Domain Software who thrives at the intersection of technology, people leadership, and customer success. In this hybrid technical + management role, you will lead a small engineering team, manage key customer projects, and contribute directly to the development of advanced space systems across flight dynamics, SSA/SST, and mission operations.

You’ll act as both a hands‑on engineer and a strategic project leader, guiding software development, steering technical discussions with satellite operators, and ensuring customer satisfaction across commercial and institutional missions.

This is a high-impact role with broad ownership. You’ll contribute to technical delivery, customer success, and strategic initiatives, including proposals and projects for space sustainability, SSA/SST, and mission operations.

Your tasks and responsibilities

Technical Leadership (50%)

• Lead the design, development, and operation of space systems, including:
• Orbit determination and propagation
• Maneuver planning and trajectory optimization
• SSA/SST processing, catalog maintenance, and sensor data integration
• Architect, implement, and review production‑grade software using:
• Python, Java, FORTRAN
• Orekit, or similar orbit mechanics libraries
• Conduct verification and validation (V&V) with real mission datasets.

Project & Team Leadership (50%)

• Lead a high-performing engineering team (2–6 people) , including mentoring, coordinating workloads, and guiding technical decisions.
• Drive end‑to‑end project delivery , ensuring technical quality, timelines, and customer success.
• Work directly with satellite operators and institutional partners to:
• Capture and refine mission requirements
• Lead high‑level technical discussions
• Translate operational needs into actionable system features
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for key accounts, building long‑term customer relationships.
• Coordinate cross‑functional efforts for proposals, strategic initiatives, and roadmap development.

Your profile

Must-have:

• M.Sc. or higher in Aerospace/Space Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or another relevant technical field.
• Approx. 5 years of experience in the space engineering domain, including proven experience in coordinating or leading technical projects in the space domain (flight dynamics, SSA/SST, mission operations, or ground segment software).
• Proven ability to drive full lifecycle software development
• Strong background in technical project management , including:
• Hands‑on experience with software engineering in Python, Fortran, Java, or similar, and familiarity with modern development practices (CI/CD, testing, DevOps workflows).
• Ability to work directly with customers
• Experience providing guidance to small engineering teams, including mentoring and task coordination.
• Professional experience in international, distributed teams
• valid EU work authorization.

Nice-to-have:

• Knowledge of cloud‑native architectures and deployment frameworks (Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Familiarity with:
• Orbit determination libraries (Orekit, GMAT, or similar)
• SSA/SST processing pipelines
• Sensor fusion workflows or catalog maintenance
• Experience in proposal writing, project scoping, or supporting business development efforts with technical input.
• Background collaborating with space agencies (ESA, DLR, etc.) or institutional missions.
• Awareness of ground segment operations, automated mission planning, or mission control workflows.

Why us?

• With a lean hierarchy and small working groups , you define your own way of work including flexible work hours .
• Work on groundbreaking space sustainability challenges with a team of top‑tier engineers and scientists.
• Enjoy technical freedom . Influence system architecture, research methodologies, and data integration approaches.
• Grow continuously with access to training budgets, industry conferences, and networking opportunities.
• Be part of a strong engineering culture, with regular knowledge‑sharing sessions, technical deep dives, and innovation sprints.
• Great team spirit , with company‑wide events such as social activities like laser tag, dinners, and team‑building outings.
• 30 days of Vacation and Workation
• Bahncard (25 if you live in Brunswick, 50 if you live outside of the city)
• Subsidized Hansefit / Wellpass Membership
• Free Drinks & Snacks in the office (the good ones)
• Bikeleasing
• Company Pension Scheme