Space Program Development Manager (m/f/d)

Linde; Burr Ridge (IL); On-site; USD 113,680 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

401K and pension plan

Employee discount program

Wide range of medical options

Job summary

Linde in Burr Ridge, IL is searching for a Space Program Development Manager to identify and develop opportunities in the space sector. This role requires expertise in market analysis and relationship building with various stakeholders. A strong technical background and exceptional communication skills are essential for success.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering/science, extensive experience, and the ability to navigate ambiguous environments effectively. Join Linde for a limitless career journey.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of work experience in the space sector at a commercial space firm or government organization.
• Ability to learn new technical domains quickly.
• Comfortable working with imperfect data and making structured assumptions.

Responsibilities

• Scout for space-sector applications leveraging Linde’s capabilities.
• Build and maintain a prioritized opportunity pipeline.
• Engage with customers to gather insights and validate demand.

Skills

Analytical skills

Program development

Technical acumen

Interpersonal skills

Business case skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science

MS/PhD in engineering or science or MBA

Job description

Space Program Development Manager (m/f/d)

Location: Preferably Burr Ridge, IL, United States, other Locations within US possible | req28178

Company: Linde Inc.

What you will enjoy doing

• Scout broadly for space-sector applications and technology-based offerings that leverage Linde’s capabilities and business models
• You will build and maintain a prioritized opportunity pipeline; screen and rank ideas using balanced criteria (customer acceptance, impact, alternatives, IP, difficulty, and execution feasibility)
• Map target value chains and customer workflows; define the ‘job to be done’ and quantify unmet needs
• Engage customers, partners, industry groups, universities, government agencies, and other external stakeholders to gather Voice‑of‑Customer insights and validate demand
• Further, you will size and quantify opportunities (market size, value pools, share potential) and create clear value propositions for differentiated solutions
• Coordinate with internal technical experts to assess solution concepts; drive pre-feasibility studies (technical/commercial) and techno-economic comparisons versus state‑of‑the‑art
• Develop business cases with assumptions and sensitivity analyses; recommend go/no‑go/pivot decisions supported by data
• Also, you will lead initiation of new development programs; define scope, resources, milestones, and go‑to‑market strategy and drive proposals through early‑stage‑gate reviews to secure business sponsorship and alignment

What Makes You Great

• You have a Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or science discipline; MS/PhD in an engineering or science discipline and/or MBA is desired
• 5+ years of work experience in the space sector at a commercial space firm or space‑focused government organization
• Demonstrated aptitude to learn new technical domains quickly
• You have strong analytical and business case skills (market sizing, value chain analysis, financial modeling, value propositions); comfort working with imperfect data and making structured assumptions
• Technical acumen to understand customer processes and translate needs into solution concepts; ability to collaborate effectively with R&D and engineering teams
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; proven ability to influence across functions and present to senior stakeholders
• Results‑driven, self‑directed, and comfortable with ambiguity in early‑stage opportunity exploration
• You are willing to travel domestically and internationally as needed (typically up to ~25%)
• You have experience in program development, technology commercialization, strategy, business development, product management, consulting, or a related role that blends technical and commercial responsibilities is a plus
• Experience with stage‑gate / portfolio management, leading early‑stage innovation programs is desired
• Experience with techno‑economic assessments and pre‑feasibility studies as well as experience with building partnerships/external networks (start‑ups, suppliers, universities, consortia) would be ideal

Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2024 sales of $33 billion. We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain, decarbonize and protect our planet.

The company serves a variety of end markets such as chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining. Linde's industrial gases and technologies are used in countless applications including production of clean hydrogen and carbon capture systems critical to the energy transition, life‑saving medical oxygen and high‑purity & specialty gases for electronics. Linde also delivers state‑of‑the‑art gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.

Linde employees learn and abide the Linde Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct by demonstrating honesty, integrity, professionalism in all communications, actions, and decisions.

What we offer you!

At Linde, the sky is not the limit. If you’re looking to build a career where your work reaches beyond your job description and betters the people with whom you work, the communities we serve, and the world in which we all live, at Linde, your opportunities are limitless. Be Linde. Be Limitless.

In addition to competitive compensation, we offer a wide range of medical options to suit everyone’s needs. Other benefits include educational and professional development, employee discount program, 401K, pension plan, and life insurance, just to name a few.

The salary range for this role is: $113,680- $170,000.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other reason prohibited by applicable law.

• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Therefore employees assigned may be required to perform additional job tasks required by the manager.