Project Manager Space Instrumentation

cosine Research BV; Sassenheim; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Hybrid working options

Company bicycle and fitness plans

Personal development budget

Initial one-year contract

Job summary

cosine Research BV seeks an experienced Project Manager to turn ambitious space instrumentation programs into successful realities. You will lead multidisciplinary development projects in our Remote Sensing business, taking instruments from concept to launch for planetary science, environmental protection and security applications.

In this role you’ll balance technical excellence with planning, budget and stakeholder expectations, typically managing projects up to €20 million and contributing to

Qualifications

• Several years of experience leading complex technical development projects in space, aerospace, defence or similar high-tech contexts.
• Technical or scientific background in engineering, physics, aerospace, systems engineering or related disciplines.
• Proven experience managing projects with demanding performance, scheduling, cost and quality requirements.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies and engineering development lifecycles.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end execution of space instrument development projects, from kick-off to final delivery.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, resources and quality through the lifecycle.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, systems engineers and manufacturing specialists.
• Act as primary contact for customers, partners, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor project performance and proactively identify, assess and mitigate risks.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, contractual obligations and industry standards.
• Drive decision-making and alignment between technical, commercial and operational objectives.
• Support proposal and business development with project management expertise.

Skills

Space project management

Engineering background

Stakeholder management

English communication

Job description

Your (space) mission

As Project Manager at cosine, you turn ambitious space instrumentation programs into successful reality.

Working within our Remote Sensing business, you lead multidisciplinary development projects that bring advanced space borne optical instruments from concept to launch. These instruments play a key role in planetary science, environmental protection, security and defence, empowering scientists and organisations worldwide to deepen their understanding of Earth and the universe beyond.

You create structure in a highly innovative environment, balancing technical excellence with planning, budget, quality, and stakeholder expectations. The projects you manage typically have budgets of up to €20 million and directly contribute to missions with impact far beyond Earth.

Tasks & responsibilities

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Lead end-to-end execution of space instrument development projects, from project kick-off to final delivery
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, resources, and quality throughout the project lifecycle
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams consisting of engineers, scientists, systems engineers, and manufacturing specialists
• Act as the primary point of contact for customers, partners, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the Director of Remote Sensing and agreed strategies
• Monitor project performance and proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements, contractual obligations, and applicable industry standards
• Drive decision-making processes and maintain alignment between technical, commercial, and operational objectives
• Support proposal and business development activities by contributing project management expertise where required

Your profile

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• Several years of experience managing complex technical development projects in the space, aerospace, defence, or other high-tech industries
• A technical or scientific background, preferably in engineering, physics, aerospace, systems engineering, or a related discipline
• Demonstrated experience managing projects with demanding requirements regarding performance, planning, cost, and quality
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies and engineering development lifecycles
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively at different organisational levels
• A structured and proactive approach, combined with the ability to remain calm and decisive in a dynamic environment
• A strong sense of ownership and accountability for project outcomes
• Experience working with institutional, governmental, or international customers is considered an advantage
• Excellent English communication skills; Dutch is a plus

What we offer

At cosine, we highly value our employees, and we will support your professional and personal development. We also provide our employees with:

• 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 competitive salary
• 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
• Initial one-year contract, with the aim of long-term collaboration

About cosine

Founded in 1998, cosine is a world-leading developer of space instrumentation and measurement systems, making the invisible measurable and the complex actionable.

Its expertise spans High-Energy Optics, including optics developed for ESA's future NewAthena X-ray observatory, as well as remote sensing solutions for Earth Observation and planetary science.

With over 25 years of experience and advanced cleanroom and assembly facilities across the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, cosine brings deep scientific and engineering expertise to some of the most demanding missions in space and on Earth.

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.

cosine is committed to providing an inclusive and equal opportunities work environment where everyone can thrive. As a proud member of the Women in Aerospace community, we recognise the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in the workplace.