Procurement Manager-Integrated Systems

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run. As we scale our vehicle portfolio, we are growing the team responsible for bringing these vehicles to life. ROLE OVERVIEW As Assembly Integration and Testing Lead Engineer, you will own end-to-end vehicle manufacturing at TEC — from the first component arriving on the floor to the final acceptance hand-over. You will ensure that all TEC vehicles (Capsule, Lunar Lander, and Satellites) are delivered On Time, On Quality, On Cost (OTOQOC). Leading a multidisciplinary AIT organization, you will set the technical and operational standards that define how TEC builds spacecraft. Direct reports include: • GSE (Ground Support Equipment) • Mechanical / Propulsion / Thermal • Operations • Electrical Functional Test   KEY RESPONSIBILITIES In your capacity as Lead AIT, your role will be continuously evolving, but day to day your duties will include: Vehicle Realisation & OTOQOC • Ensure all TEC vehicles (Capsule, Lunar Lander, Satellites) are assembled, integrated, and tested On Time, On Quality, and On Cost. • Define, implement, and enforce AIT plans, procedures, and schedules across all programmes. • Drive non-conformance resolution and lessons-learned processes to continuously raise the quality bar. • Ensure full traceability and compliance of AIT activities with applicable quality, safety, and reliability standards (ESA, NASA, or equivalent). Team Leadership • Lead, mentor, and develop the AIT team across GSE, Mechanical/Propulsion/Thermal, Operations, and Electrical Functional Test functions. • Set clear objectives, KPIs, and development plans for direct reports and the broader AIT organisation. • Foster a culture of extreme ownership, rigour, and continuous improvement on the shop floor and respect of rules for Flight hardware building (double check, cleanliness etc…). Budget & Resource Management • Own and manage the AIT budget, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently across programmes. • Build and maintain multi-year budget forecasts aligned with the vehicle development roadmap. • Identify cost optimisation opportunities without compromising schedule or quality. Operational Planning & Infrastructure • Anticipate and plan operational needs including cleanroom and integration hall floor space (SQM), infrastructure upgrades, and tooling procurement. • Manage the procurement and qualification of all AIT tooling, GSE, and test equipment. • Ensure facilities and infrastructure scale in line with the vehicle production ramp-up. Cross-functional Collaboration • Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Programme Management to ensure seamless transition from design to hardware. • Represent AIT in programme reviews, customer audits, and milestone gates. • Interface with external partners, test facilities, and launch service providers as required.   WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FROM YOU In the role of Lead AIT, ideally, you will have the following: • 10 to 15 years of experience as an AIT Manager on equivalent space vehicles (spacecraft, launchers, satellites, or planetary landers), with a demonstrable track record of delivering OTOQOC. • Proven ability to lead large, multidisciplinary AIT teams covering mechanical, electrical, propulsion, thermal, and GSE functions. • Deep technical expertise in spacecraft AIT processes, including MAIT planning, work instruction authoring, hazardous operations, and acceptance test campaigns. • Strong budget management skills, with experience owning multi-million-euro AIT budgets and reporting to senior leadership. • Demonstrated experience anticipating and planning for operational infrastructure needs: cleanroom SQM, cranes, vacuum chambers, vibration rigs, tooling. • Solid knowledge of space industry standards (ECSS, ESA, NASA) and their practical application in an AIT context. • Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills: you communicate clearly, make decisions under pressure, and bring your team with you. • Hands-on mindset — you are equally comfortable in a management review and on the shop floor. • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, start-up environment where priorities evolve and resourcefulness is valued. • Fluent in English; French or German is a plus.   BONUS POINTS • Experience with multiple vehicle types (e.g., satellite + crewed vehicle + lander) across different mission profiles. • Exposure to serial production ramp-up in a space context. • Familiarity with New Space operating models and the associated pace and culture. • Experience interfacing with launch campaign teams and range safety. Why you should join us! What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:   * We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind  * We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them   * We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?   We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly.    The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.   All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible. If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.

SAEKI - MANUFACTURING AT SOFTWARE SPEED Europe's defense industrial base cannot respond at the speed modern conflict requires. Legacy suppliers operate on month-long timelines. Tribal knowledge is retiring. Supply chains are fragile. SAEKI is building the operating system for autonomous factories — the infrastructure that lets Europe manufacture mission-critical components at software speed. You'll own the physical buildout of SAEKI's factories — from empty floor space to fully operational, highly automated production lines. You are the person who turns a factory layout on a screen into a running facility. THE ROLE As the Factory Deployment Lead, you are the architect and program manager of our physical factory infrastructure. Your mandate is to plan, build out, and commission Factory ONE in Germany — and then package that playbook so it can be replicated globally. You own the full deployment lifecycle: factory layout and material flow design, equipment selection and procurement, utility and infrastructure planning, installation supervision, automation integration, and ramp-up to series production. You work backwards from production targets and forwards from a bare concrete slab, orchestrating every trade, vendor, and installation sequence required to stand up a world-class autonomous manufacturing facility on time and on budget. Based on-site at Factory ONE in Munich, with travel to equipment vendors and future factory sites as needed. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR * 7+ years of experience in factory planning, industrial engineering, or manufacturing facility buildout — ideally in automotive, aerospace, or high-volume precision manufacturing. You have personally led or been deeply embedded in at least one greenfield factory deployment or major production line installation. * Factory Layout and Material Flow Mastery: You think in terms of value streams, takt times, and material flow. You can design a factory layout that optimizes for throughput, flexibility, and automation — and you know how to iterate it as requirements change. * Equipment Integration: Hands-on experience specifying, procuring, installing, and commissioning capital equipment — CNC machines, industrial robots, conveyor systems, 3D printers, or similar. You understand foundations, utilities (power, compressed air, cooling), and the mechanical/electrical interfaces required to bring machines online. * Automation Deployment: Deep understanding of how to deploy and integrate automated production systems — robotic workcells, automated material handling, vision systems, and PLC-controlled infrastructure. You don't need to write PLC code, but you must understand how automated systems fit together at a systems level. * Program Management Rigor: You manage complex, multi-vendor buildout schedules with dozens of parallel workstreams. You are relentless about timelines, dependencies, and risk mitigation. * Vendor and Contractor Management: Experience managing relationships with machine tool OEMs, system integrators, construction contractors, and utility providers. You know how to hold vendors accountable and negotiate effectively. * Lean / Industrial Engineering Foundations: Strong grounding in lean manufacturing principles, line balancing, ergonomics, and continuous improvement. You design factories that are efficient from day one, not just functional. * Software-Driven Mindset: You are energized by the idea of a software-defined factory. You understand that the physical layout must be designed hand-in-hand with the digital infrastructure — sensors, networking, edge compute, and data collection are first-class citizens in your factory plans. * Location: Based in Munich (on-site at Factory ONE). Travel to vendor sites and future factory locations required. * Language: Fluent in German and English. WHAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR * Traditional plant managers who optimize steady-state operations. This role is about building factories, not running them. * People who plan on paper but don't supervise execution. You will be on the floor during installation, commissioning, and ramp-up — hard hat and steel toes. * Engineers who treat automation and IT infrastructure as an afterthought to be "added later." At SAEKI, digital and physical infrastructure are designed together from the start. * Executives who need a large support team before they can be effective. You will start lean and build the team as the deployment scales. * People who are uncomfortable with ambiguity and rapid iteration. Factory plans will change as our technology evolves — you must be able to adapt without losing momentum. WHAT WE OFFER * Mission: Rebuild the industrial sovereignty of the West. Your work directly enables the production of mission-critical hardware for defense and space. * Total Ownership: High-stakes autonomy in your domain. You own both the problems and the solutions — and have the authority to execute. * The Environment: Access to a 5,000m² state-of-the-art facility featuring 5-axis CNCs, industrial robots, and industrial 3D printers. Your work runs on real hardware from day one. * The Team: "Special Forces" model. Everyone senior, everyone ships. No politics, no bureaucracy. Direct feedback, high standards. * Compensation: Competitive salary + meaningful equity. * Location: Zurich HQ or Factory ONE in Munich, depending on role. Hybrid options available where applicable. APPLY * Resume: Focus on systems you've built and owned. * GitHub/Portfolio: Show us work you're proud of — code, machines, or production systems. * Cover letter: Why this mission? Why now? What would you build first?