Project Manager - Space Instrumentation

cosine; Sassenheim; Hybrid; EUR 46,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Hybrid working options

Company bicycle and fitness plans

Personal development budget

Annual bonus based on performance

Job summary

cosine in Sassenheim is seeking a Project Manager to manage space instrument development projects. You will ensure delivery within budget, on time, and to the highest standards in a highly innovative environment.

The ideal candidate has several years of experience leading technical projects, a strong technical background, and excellent stakeholder management skills. The position offers a hybrid work model, a competitive salary, and unique benefits.

Qualifications

• Several years of experience leading complex technical projects in space or aerospace.
• Strong technical background in a relevant field.
• Proven ability to manage budget, schedule, and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end project execution for space instrument development.
• Drive integrated planning across schedule, budget, and resources.
• Align and coordinate stakeholders including partners and suppliers.

Skills

Technical project management

Stakeholder management

Aerospace engineering knowledge

Problem-solving skills

Education

Degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Your (space) mission

We turn space ambitions into reliable execution. Both on Earth and beyond.

As the Project Manager at cosine, you manage the projects that bring cutting‑edge space instruments from design to launch. Working in the heart of our Remote Sensing business, you ensure that complex space missions are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality expected in the space industry. The project budgets you manage typically range from €5 million to €20 million.

You are the stabilizing force in a highly innovative environment. While engineers and scientists push the boundaries of optical and sensing technology for satellites, you keep the program grounded in reality: clear planning, controlled costs, aligned stakeholders, and predictable delivery. Your work directly contributes to instruments that operate in orbit and generate insights about our planet and universe.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end project execution for space instrument development programs
• Drive integrated planning across schedule, budget, and resources in multidisciplinary teams
• Align and coordinate stakeholders, including institutional customers, partners, and suppliers
• Track progress through all project phases, from design to AIT and launch preparation
• Proactively identify risks and ensure structured mitigation in line with space project standards

Your profile

• Several years of experience leading complex technical projects in space, aerospace, or other high‑tech engineering environments
• A strong technical or scientific background, for example in physics, engineering, systems engineering, or a related field
• Proven ability to manage projects with demanding requirements on performance, schedule, cost, and quality
• Familiarity with system engineering principles and complex development lifecycles
• Strong stakeholder management skills in an international and multidisciplinary environment
• Structured, calm, and decisive under pressure, with a strong sense of ownership
• Experience with institutional or governmental customers is an advantage
• Excellent English communication skills; Dutch is a plus

What We Offer

• A unique, international working environment at the intersection of physics and engineering
• The opportunity to deliver end-to-end solutions in autonomous project teams, in close collaboration with customers
• A salary between €3 800 - €5 400 gross per month along with an annual bonus based on individual and company performance
• 27 days of annual leave (based on full‑time employment)
• Hybrid working options, including the possibility to work partially from home
• Company bicycle and fitness plans
• A personal development budget

About Cosine

Cosine transforms high‑stakes measurement challenges into scalable, real‑world solutions. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Sassenheim, the Netherlands, cosine is a world‑leading developer of space instrumentation and measurement systems. Our expertise spans Silicon Pore Optics — including optics developed for ESA’s NewAthena X‑ray observatory — as well as hyperspectral remote sensing solutions for Earth Observation and planetary science. With over 25 years of experience and facilities across the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, cosine brings deep scientific and engineering expertise to some of the most demanding missions in the space sector.

What makes cosine a unique place to work is that your work goes end‑to‑end: from concept and design to building, testing, and delivering hardware that actually flies in space. You work in small, highly skilled teams where you have real ownership and impact, alongside experts in optics, physics, nanofabrication, and systems engineering.