VP Programmes arbeitnow Se3 Munich · 10/19/2026

Primetime; München; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SE3 Labs in Munich is seeking a VP of Programs to lead the most strategic government programme pursuits from early requirements to contract award. You will work with founders, commercial leadership and engineers to shape opportunities and build a small programmes team.

You will own bids end-to-end, guide procurement through to contract, and nurture trusted relationships with government offices and end users.

Qualifications

• Experience leading government programme pursuits from requirements to award.
• Proven ability to own bids end-to-end including technical, commercial and delivery input.
• Experience with government defence customers and procurement processes.
• Willingness to relocate to Munich.

Responsibilities

• Programme Capture: Lead the pursuit of government programmes, shaping requirements early and building the case for SE3's systems.

Job description

Lead SE3's pursuit of government programmes, from first requirement to contract award, and help build the team that wins them.

About SE3

SE3 Labs builds spatial intelligence and autonomy software for unmanned systems. We combine 3D computer vision, state estimation and AI to help autonomous platforms perceive their surroundings, know where they are and operate when GPS and other sensors become unreliable. Defence is a core application of our work today.

We are growing to a team of 100+ people. Join at a stage where you can shape our Programmes team, help build the team and grow your responsibilities as the company expands.

About the Role

As VP of Programs, you'll lead SE3's most important government programme pursuits, taking opportunities from early requirements through procurement, bid and negotiation to contract award. You'll work closely with our founders, commercial leadership and engineers in Munich, and build a small programmes team around you while staying hands-on in every pursuit. Your work decides which of our capabilities reach long-term service with government customers.

What You'll Work On

Programme Capture: Lead the pursuit of government programmes, shaping requirements early and building the case for SE3's systems.

Bids & Proposals: Own bids and proposals end to end, bringing together technical, commercial and delivery input from across the company.

Procurement to Contract: Guide opportunities through procurement processes, commercial negotiation and contract award.

Customer Relationships: Build trusted relationships with government programme offices and end users.

Delivery Alignment: Work with engineering and delivery teams so that commitments are realistic and programmes are set up to succeed after award.

Programmes Team: Hire and develop a small team of programme and bid managers as our pipeline grows.

Your Profile

You take ownership of outcomes and remove obstacles without waiting for direction. You turn discussions into clear decisions and decisions into deliverables, and you hold yourself and your team to a consistently high standard.

You have played a lead role in winning government programmes, with a clear personal contribution to the outcome.

You know government defence customers and their procurement processes, and you have managed bids from requirement to award.

You have led or mentored a team and want to build one, while still doing much of the work yourself.

You work well with engineers and can turn technical capability into a credible, compelling proposal.

You move quickly and take responsibility in an early-stage company, and you're based in Munich or willing to relocate.

You speak fluent English; German is a plus. Given the nature of SE3's work in the defence sector, candidates must be eligible to work on defence-related projects and, where required, obtain the relevant security clearance.

Especially Valued Bonus Skills

Military experience.

Experience in defence programme management or a government programme office.

Experience with autonomous systems, UAVs or software-defined defence.

Real Ownership: Participate in SE3's growth through our employee participation programme

Work Environment to Excel at: Find a high-quality and modern toolset, flat hierarchy and a skilled, driven team which will push the limits together with you

AI-boosted workplace: We empower every employee with best-in-class AI tools and agents, giving you unlimited access to the latest advancements and a true productivity edge

31 Paid Days Off: 30 vacation days plus your birthday off

Well-being Access: Free membership to gyms, yoga, and wellness through EGYM Wellpass

Team Offsets: We go on 2 company retreats per year, our last ones were in Italy and Greece

Mentorship: Work closely with experienced engineers and get paired with a professional mentor to support your growth

Our Process

Intro Call (30 min): Let's get to know each other.

Case Study (90 min): We work through a realistic bid or programme capture scenario together.

Deep-Dive Interview (1 hr): We dive into programmes you have helped win, bids you have led and how you work with engineering teams.

Team Dinner / Lunch: Meet the team and see whether it is a strong fit on both sides.

SE3 is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

This overview was written from the original listing to help you understand the role. Always confirm the specifics on the employer’s application page.