Program Manager

• Mission / Program Manager
• Space Systems
• Location: Switzerland
• On-site
• Industry: Space / Launch / In-Space Transportation
• I'm working with a fast-growing European space company developing a next-generation heavy orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) designed to transport large payloads from initial deployment orbit to their final destination.

They're looking for an experienced Mission / Program Manager to take ownership of a flagship vehicle programme and drive it through development, qualification and ultimately flight.

The Role

You'll sit at the centre of the programme, working closely with engineering leadership and teams across propulsion, avionics, GNC, structures, electrical, AIT and operations.

Key responsibilities include

• Own the programme from development through qualification and flight readiness
• Build and manage the vehicle-level WBS, master schedule, milestones and programme risks
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams and ensure dependencies are understood and delivered
• Drive programme reviews, technical milestones and readiness activities
• Manage programme risks, issues, changes and recovery plans
• Work closely with Systems Engineering to maintain alignment between technical and programme objectives
• Own customer-facing programme activities and communicate progress, risks and changes clearly
• Support qualification, AIT, launch preparation and mission readiness
• Establish scalable programme processes suitable for a rapidly growing space company

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years' experience delivering complex space or aerospace programmes
• Strong background in spacecraft, launch vehicles, upper stages, kickstages or OTVsExperience taking complex hardware through development, integration, testing and qualification
• Proven ownership of programme schedule, WBS, risk and cross-functional delivery
• Technically credible enough to work closely with senior engineers without needing to be the technical authority
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup/scale-up where processes are still being built
• Strong customer and stakeholder management experience
• Previous kickstage / upper-stage / orbital transfer vehicle experience would be particularly valuable
• This is a highly visible role with significant ownership over one of the company's core spacecraft programmes.
• Fully on-site in Switzerland.
• Relocation support available.