Senior Project Manager (In-Orbit Cryo Systems)

Location: Luxembourg; onsite

Company

The Exploration Company builds spacecraft for humanity and develops in-orbit services and space systems for institutional customers in collaboration with the European Space Agency.

What you will do

• Plan, track, and deliver ESA-funded projects using integrated schedules, critical paths, budgets, resource plans, and work breakdown structures.
• Lead projects through the ESA/ECSS review cycle, including SRR, PDR, CDR, QR, AR, review packages, presentations, RID handling, and action close-out.
• Own project scope, requirements baselines, interfaces, configuration control, milestones, decision gates, issue resolution, and change control with systems engineering.
• Coordinate systems engineering, engineering disciplines, quality and product assurance, procurement, subcontractors, and partners through deliverables, integration, testing, and technical interface meetings.
• Manage budgets, cost-to-complete forecasts, risks, issues, recovery plans, procurement status, supply-chain constraints, and long-lead items.
• Act as the primary contact for ESA and institutional stakeholders while supporting proposals and follow-on ESA opportunities.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or related engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 6–8 years of professional experience in the aerospace or space sector, including project or work-package management and technical delivery.
• Experience managing spacecraft, orbital systems, or complex space subsystems through design, integration, and test.
• Experience with ESA/ECSS review processes, including SRR, PDR, CDR, QR, AR, and RID handling.
• Demonstrated hardware delivery experience, including oversight of industrial or partner work through integration and test, qualification, and/or ground demonstration.
• Experience managing industrial partners and subcontractors across several countries.
• Strong planning and cost-control skills, including schedule networks, earned value or equivalent, and risk-based contingency.
• Fluent English required; strong oral and written communication, analysis, problem-solving, organisation, prioritisation, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Ability to comply with export-control, product-assurance, and company document standards.

Nice to have

• French language skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Agile environment with fast decision-making aligned to project goals and systems.
• Open and collaborative culture focused on transparency around risks and obstacles.
• Mission-driven work aimed at democratising space, with values of Mission, Vision, Integrity, Excellence, and Teamwork.
• Relocation assistance is provided for willing candidates, including visa sponsorship where applicable.
• Employment offers are contingent on a country-, role-, and project-dependent background check.

Hiring process

• Submit a CV for immediate consideration.
• Where applicable, complete the post-offer background-check process through Zinc Work Limited’s secure portal.