Senior Project Manager for Optical Payload Studies(m/f/d)

OHB System AG – We.Create.Space

OHB System AG is one of the leading space companies in Europe. The company is part of the listed high‑tech group OHB SE, which has more than 3,200 employees working on pivotal European space programs. With two strong locations in Bremen and Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich and more than 40 years of experience, OHB System AG specialises in high‑tech solutions for space. These include low‑orbiting and geostationary satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, science and space exploration as well as systems for human space flight and aerial reconnaissance. We owe our success to our employees’ passion for innovation, as well as their commitment and initiative.

For permanent employment OHB System AG in Oberpfaffenhofen is looking for a

Senior Project Manager for Optical Payload Studies(m/f/d)

In this position you are a part of OHB’s optical payload concept office that is responsible for the concept definition of optical systems for space applications. In your role, you ensure the successful programmatic execution of the concept phases for optical payloads (ITT’s, AB1). As a senior your responsibility also extends to a driving contribution to create and maintain a programmatic project framework ensuring customer satisfaction in line with key company strategies and being a mentor to younger staff.

Your Tasks

• Programmatic lead and coordination of the project execution within a multidisciplinary and multinational team:
  • Steering of the overall process
  • Risk analysis and risk management of complex technical products
  • Ensure design‑to‑cost and design to company value chain
  • Analyze project KPIs, derive actions for optimization and lead corrective action
  • Assure compliance to schedule, cost framework and quality
  • Coordinate and liaise work and interaction of project team, in‑house departments, subcontractors, and customers
  • Create programmatic and business documentation, provide support for technical documentation
• Overall management and responsibility for proposals and studies in line with market developments and requirements
  • Preparation of competitive proposals
  • Support in the acquisition of new proposals and studies
• Planning and programmatic lead of technology development and predevelopment activities
• Organizing and leading discussions and meetings with customers
• Creating and maintaining a programmatic project framework ensuring customer satisfaction in line with key company strategies
• Being a mentor and advisor for younger staff

Your Qualifications

• A demonstrated relevant work history and experience of at least 15 years in a technical multi‑project management type role with a holistic responsibility for optical space instruments or comparable systems with high technological complexity
• Proven deep understanding and successful management of the challenges of space instrumentation projects, design‑to‑cost, and value chain driven product design
• Solid understanding and proficiency in space‑relevant engineering topics
• A proven history in multi‑stakeholder management where the stakeholders come from programmatic, technical, political, and other backgrounds
• A proven history of managing technology development and predevelopment activities
• Significant knowledge of standards (ECSS) and regulations in the space engineering business
• Experience in cost engineering and design‑to‑cost work tailoring
• Business and entrepreneurial thinking and experience in guiding a team in situations with competing stakeholders
• An organized and structured task approach
• Leadership & team player mentality
• Effective communication skills. Internal & external representation capabilities
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Fluency (C2 level) in German is a strong asset and mandatory over the medium term

We offer

• Work Life Balance: Flexible working hours, sabbatical, 30 days vacation & special leave days
• Mobile Work: Hybrid work & mobile work abroad
• Structured on‑boarding process (incl. assignment of a buddy in the first months)
• Development: Extensive range of training courses, individual professional development, German language courses & annual employee dialogue
• Space projects
• Additional benefits: 13th monthly salary, accident insurance & company pension plan
• Catering: High standard company restaurant & generous meals subsidy
• Active health promotion: Health management, e‑GYM Wellpass & in‑company sports groups
• Family: Kindergarten subsidy / kindergarten places, childcare in the vacation period & paid child sickness days
• Mobility: Subsidised Deutschland ticket, job bike & parking lots
• Company parties & events: Christmas party, satellite launch events, nextgen speakers night
• Innovation: Company suggestion system & free research and development

A complete overview of our benefits and more details can be found here on our website.

Become part of our international team and take your professional and personal development to a new level. Don’t fulfil all the requirements? No problem – we are happy to receive applications with partial matches! We are looking forward to your application in German or English via our online tool.

OHB System AG
Human Resources

Questions regarding this posting? Alfrida Paja is available under