Product Manager (all genders) for Space Hardware

Product Manager (all genders) for Space Hardware

THE WHY: To make sure we build what the market actually needs. A great product that misses the customer is a failed product. You make sure that never happens.

THE WHAT: You own market-fit for our portfolio (e.g. Launch, or Satellites). You don't just write requirements – you make sure the right product gets built, for the right reasons, every time.

The following responsibilities and profile are essential for success in this role.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understand the segment's customer needs, applications, and competitive landscape before they become a surprise.
• Test every product idea for feasibility and market-fit before a single resource is committed.
• Ensure qualified products keep performing in the field – and if they don't, you already have the next move ready.
• Maintain a current, first‑hand picture of customer needs, applications, and the competitive landscape in your segment; engage directly with the market and know when a desk is enough.
• Translate customer needs into clear product requirements and a sequenced roadmap with gate milestones; the roadmap is jointly owned with Strategy and Engineering.
• Turn every product idea – from R&D, market opportunity, or customer request – into a structured concept brief, run feasibility checks with engineering, and pitch it to the Product Committee.
• Write and own the PRD, define functional gate exit criteria, and decide on spec changes when requirements are changing.
• Identify new product opportunities or addressable market segments that become viable as new technologies mature and decide which ones are worth pursuing.
• Review field‑insight reports monthly with the Product Owner and feed learnings into the next product generation.
• Bring genuine curiosity and energy to your segment and thrive on trade shows, customer dialogue, and new product ideas.

YOUR PROFILE

• Master's degree in Industrial / Mechanical / Electrical / Aerospace Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. Technical background with commercial experience, or vice versa.
• 3–5+ years of experience, ideally as a Product Manager, Product Owner, Product Designer, or Program/Project Manager.
• Structured, strategic thinking with strong analytical rigor – be able to prioritize under ambiguity and make decisions without complete information.
• Strong communication skills and customer empathy – comfortable as the external face of your segment.
• Technical fluency – can meet engineers at eye level without owning the design yourself.
• Daily user of AI tools, with a genuine interest in experimenting with new workflows.
• Comfortable with breadth across many topics rather than depth in one.
• Speak English fluently; German is a plus for day‑to‑day collaboration but not a must‑have.
• Nice‑to‑have: experience in the space industry or with COPVs.
• Nice‑to‑have: start‑up or VC background.

WHAT WE OFFER

• High level of autonomy & real impact: Own a critical seam in the business – between what we sell and what we build.
• Startup mindset meets aerospace innovation: Flat hierarchies, fast decisions, and space for your ideas.
• Choose your own benefit: Germany ticket, Egym Wellpass, or a tax‑free Give Card.
• Healthy & social lunch culture: Fresh meals during shared lunch breaks.
• Stunning views: Rooftop terrace with views of the Alps in Taufkirchen, or indoor garden in Garching‑Hochbrück.
• Growth opportunities: Work on technically demanding projects with real stakes.
• We live our team culture: From tech talks to team events and after‑work gatherings – we celebrate success together.

ABOUT US

Blackwave designs, manufactures and ships flight‑qualified, commercial off‑the‑shelf composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for launch vehicles and satellites. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company delivers COPVs from a standardized portfolio with flight heritage. The approach reduces lead time from months to days while ensuring that each tank is qualified and flight‑ready. Blackwave's mission is to end COPV failure in spaceflight. The company employs more than 150 people across manufacturing facilities in Germany and Texas.