Head of Space Engineering (m/f/d)

Building and leading hofer’s Space business

Bring your space industry experience — and help us build something new.

hofer develops advanced technologies in electronics, electric drives, battery and systems engineering, prototyping, and testing. We want to apply these capabilities to space applications, including satellites, start adapters, launch vehicles, and lunar vehicles.

We are looking for an experienced professional to build our Space business together with our Business Development team. You will bring in-depth knowledge of the space sector, take technical responsibility, lead initial development projects, and build a capable team.

Your mission

You will take technical responsibility for establishing hofer’s Space activities. Together, we will define where hofer can make a meaningful contribution and which capabilities we need to develop. You will shape the required development processes, lead initial customer projects, and build the team as the business grows. In the early stages, you will also contribute directly to technical concepts and project work.

• The opportunity to shape a new business area from the outset, both technically and organizationally.
• A central role working closely with Business Development and our engineering teams.
• An existing foundation in engineering, prototyping, and testing to build on.
• A varied role combining hands-on engineering, project responsibility, and team development.
• The opportunity to grow with the business and shape its technical direction over the long term.
• A choice of work location in Munich, Stuttgart, St.Ulrich bei Steyr, Vienna, Nürtingen or Bozen (South Tyrol).
• A corporate culture characterised by a shared goal, open communication, flat hierarchies, team spirit and a hands-on approach.
• Contribution to the company pension scheme (Germany)
• Additional benefits for our staff (e.g. discounted online shopping through Corporate Benefits)
• JobBicyle (Germany and Austria)

• Build the Space business: Develop technical focus areas and service offerings with Business Development and hofer’s engineering teams; identify the capabilities, resources, and partnerships required.
• Lead development projects: Manage projects from requirements analysis and concept development through design, prototyping, integration, qualification, and customer acceptance.
• Shape systems engineering: Translate customer and mission needs into technical specifications, define system architectures and interfaces, and assess technical trade-offs and risks.
• Establish space-specific processes: Apply relevant ECSS and customer requirements; establish structured requirements, configuration, and change management, as well as technical reviews.
• Plan testing and verification: Develop verification and qualification strategies, coordinate internal and external test activities, and ensure clear, traceable technical documentation.
• Build and develop a team: Recruit, lead, and develop employees; bring hofer’s existing capabilities together with external specialists in effective project teams.
• Manage projects commercially: Plan work packages, effort, budgets, schedules, and resources; coordinate suppliers and development partners.
• Work with customers and partners: Support technical customer discussions and proposals, assess feasibility and development effort, and define clear scopes of work.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in space engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, physics, or a comparable field.
• 5+ years of substantial professional experience developing space systems, subsystems, or components.
• Demonstrated responsibility for space development projects or major work packages, ideally through successful qualification and delivery.
• Experience as a technical project manager, lead systems engineer, engineering manager, or in a comparable role.
• A strong understanding of the space industry, customer requirements, development processes, and collaboration between customers, system integrators, and suppliers.
• Practical experience with systems engineering, relevant ECSS standards, and technical reviews, such as Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews.
• An understanding of space environmental conditions and their impact on design and qualification, including vacuum, temperature cycling, vibration, and radiation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and a strong interest in developing people and new structures.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, clear communication skills, and the willingness to take responsibility and contribute directly in a business-building phase.
• Very good English skills; German is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel for projects.

Additional experience that would be an advantage

Experience with space electronics, power systems, batteries, electric drives, or mechatronic systems; a strong network in the space industry; and knowledge of product assurance, reliability analysis, or collaboration with ESA, DLR, and commercial space companies.

Would you like to use your space industry experience to build a new business area at hofer?

Please send us your CV and a brief overview of relevant space projects, including your responsibilities, the development phases you supported, and the results achieved.

Your commitment and flexibility will open up excellent career development opportunities for you.

If you are interested in this role as Head of Space Engineering (m/f/d), please apply using our online form only.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.