---
title: 'AIT Senior Project Manager – Nyx Earth at The Exploration Company'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/ait-senior-project-manager-nyx-earth-the-exploration-company-munich-w1x7rvea9s6b'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# AIT Senior Project Manager – Nyx Earth at The Exploration Company

- **Company:** [The Exploration Company](https://feeny.ai/companies/the-exploration-company)
- **Location:** Munich, Germany
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-08-19
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/the-exploration-company/c193f062-f7e7-4e25-9c1f-163521583d02

## Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity. As AIT Senior Project Manager, you will streamline the Assembly, Integration and Test activities for Nyx Earth, ensuring that the vehicle is integrated, tested and prepared for launch safely, on schedule and within budget.

You will report to the Chief Program Officer, who is also the Program Manager for Nyx Earth. Travel to production, test and launch locations is required, majority of them being in Europe.

## Key responsibilities

Project leadership:

- Manage the AIT project, providing guidance, motivation and strategic direction.
- Define AIT objectives, scope, deliverables, milestones and interfaces with the program team.
- Build an effective operating rhythm across engineering, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, operations and launch services.

AIT strategy and technical oversight:

- Support the AIT strategy, including the integration sequence, verification approach and test philosophy.
- Build and maintain the AIT work logic, critical path and readiness criteria in collaboration with System Engineering and Quality.
- Coordinate the integration of spacecraft subsystems, software, ground support equipment and associated facilities.
- Plan and manage functional, performance, environmental and mission-level testing.
- Ensure that test results, anomalies and verification evidence are properly reviewed and closed.

Facility and resource management:

- Define and secure the facilities, tooling, test equipment and ground support equipment required for the campaign.
- Coordinate facility readiness, test-site interfaces, reviews and launch-site preparation.
- Develop and manage the AIT budget, resource plan and external-service requirements.

Timeline and milestone tracking:

- Develop and maintain a detailed AIT schedule with clear milestones, dependencies and schedule margin.
- Monitor progress and identify delays, resource conflicts and critical-path risks early.
- Lead recovery plans when supplier, technical or operational issues affect the program.

Collaboration and communication:

- Coordinate cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, quality, safety and external partners.
- Provide clear and transparent reporting to the Chief Program Officer and program stakeholders.
- Establish clear decision-making and change-control processes with customers and suppliers.

Risk, quality and safety:

- Identify and assess AIT risks, developing mitigation and contingency plans.
- In collaboration with Quality and Safety, manage non-conformances, deviations, waivers, anomalies and corrective actions.
- Ensure that hardware, software, AIT documentation, procedures, readiness reviews, test configurations remain properly controlled and traceable.

Supplier management:

- Monitor supplier readiness, deliveries, technical maturity and documentation.
- Define clear AIT acceptance criteria and deliverables for suppliers.
- Lead supplier recovery actions when technical mistakes or late deliveries threaten the schedule or mission.

What we would love to see from you

- Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering or a related discipline.
- 6+ years of experience in project or program management.
- Experience in AIT, AIV, system integration, verification or test campaign leadership.
- Proven experience managing complex spacecraft, launch vehicle, aircraft or other safety-critical hardware projects.
- Strong technical background in spacecraft AIT, system engineering and requirements verification.
- Experience with environmental testing, test facilities, ground support equipment and launch-site activities.
- Demonstrated experience in budget management, resource allocation, schedule control and risk mitigation.
- Strong supplier-management and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Willingness to travel frequently, mostly across Europe.

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.

## About The Exploration Company

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: The Exploration Company (TEC) is building a full-stack space transportation platform, including a reusable space capsule (Nyx) and a high-thrust rocket engine (Storm), to democratize access to space.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B)
- **Headquarters**: Munich, Germany (HQ); additional offices in Bordeaux (France), Luxembourg, Turin (Italy), Houston (Texas, USA), and Dubai/Abu Dhabi (UAE)
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Hélène Huby (CEO) and a team of aerospace veterans

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Space transportation, aerospace engineering, orbital logistics
- **Target customers**: Space station operators, satellite operators, government space agencies (e.g., NASA), commercial space companies (B2B, B2G)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To build space vehicles for humanity, enabling everyone to participate peacefully in the building of our human future." [exploration.space](https://exploration.space/about)

## Products & Services
- **Nyx**: A reusable space capsule designed to dock with any space station, capable of carrying cargo (and eventually crew) to low-Earth orbit. It is the company’s first commercial vehicle.
- **Storm**: A high-thrust, staged-combustion rocket engine delivering up to 180 tons of thrust, designed to power a globally competitive, reusable launcher.
- **Mission Bikini**: A first demonstrator capsule built for ballistic reentry, completed from paper sketch to flight-ready in nine months.
- **Mission Possible**: A second demonstrator capsule built for controlled re-entry and recovery with cargo, completed in two years.
- **Orbital Propulsion**: In-house development of avionics, flight software, guidance/navigation/control (GNC), and reusable thrusters.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Total Funding**: $210.06M (Series B, with a $160M round raised approximately two years ago) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/the-exploration-company)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Backed by tier-one investors; first European company to sign a Space Act Agreement with NASA; board includes figures like Mike Griffin (former NASA Administrator) and Yo-Yo Ma (cellist and board advisor) [exploration.space](https://exploration.space/about)
- **Growth Signals**: 10 missions already booked; two demonstrator capsules built in under three years; team of 450+ employees spanning 35 nationalities; offices in 6 locations across Europe, the US, and the UAE; named one of the fastest-growing space companies worldwide.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Speed of execution**: Demonstrated ability to go from concept to flight-ready hardware in 9–24 months, far faster than traditional aerospace.
- **Reusability focus**: Both Nyx and Storm are designed for rapid reuse, dramatically lowering per-mission costs.
- **Open-source vehicle design**: TEC’s approach is intentionally collaborative, fostering partnerships across countries and with NASA.
- **Full-stack capability**: Controls the entire space transportation stack (capsule, engine, avionics, software), reducing dependency on external suppliers.
- **European base with global reach**: Positioned as a key European player in the new space economy, with strong government and commercial ties.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercial cargo missions**: First priority is launching Nyx to serve low-Earth orbit space stations (both public and private).
- **Engine development**: Continuing work on Storm to power a future European launcher.
- **International expansion**: Deepening presence in the US (Houston office) and UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi office).
- **Talent scaling**: Growing the team from 450+ to meet mission milestones, with a focus on engineering, production, and digital roles.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes speed, execution, and ownership. Values include Excellence, Teamwork, Integrity, and "Space for everyone." The company prides itself on gathering diverse, international talent from both space and non-space backgrounds.
- **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Offers flexibility and remote work opportunities depending on the role, but encourages a hybrid approach where possible. [exploration.space](https://www.exploration.space/careers)
- **Relocation Support**: Yes, the company provides relocation assistance and work permit/visa support for new hires.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge space vehicles from day one; internal mobility encouraged; background check required for all offers.
- **Engineering Culture**: Leadership includes aerospace veterans who have worked on major global space programs. The team is 450+ strong, representing 35 nationalities, with a flat, fast-moving structure.

## Sources
1. [exploration.space - Home](https://exploration.space/)
2. [exploration.space - About](https://exploration.space/about)
3. [exploration.space - Careers](https://www.exploration.space/careers)
4. [cbinsights.com - The Exploration Company](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/the-exploration-company)
5. [Wikipedia - The Exploration Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exploration_Company)

## Other roles at The Exploration Company

- [Propulsion Engineer - Huracan Components](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-engineer-huracan-components-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-hm7d92nm0je9) — Bordeaux, France
- [HIL Engineer — Huracan Rocket Engine](https://feeny.ai/job/hil-engineer-huracan-rocket-engine-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-emhstqpnghzd) — Bordeaux, France
- [Intern- Office & Site Management](https://feeny.ai/job/intern-office-site-management-the-exploration-company-munich-0804jw3gzwpp) — Munich, Germany
- [Lead European Institutions and French Public Affairs](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-european-institutions-and-french-public-affairs-the-exploration-company-f5qg5721tw4a) — France
- [Project Security Officer](https://feeny.ai/job/project-security-officer-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-xzdts7mgjyqe) — Bordeaux, France
- [Deputy Flight Software Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/deputy-flight-software-lead-the-exploration-company-munich-bs353xwvzqjx) — Munich, Germany
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- [Lead Project Manager Dual Use In-Orbit Services](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-project-manager-dual-use-in-orbit-services-the-exploration-company-munich-14vx6hjewz7z) — Munich, Germany
- [Lead Supply Chain](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-supply-chain-the-exploration-company-munich-ghy6tyn015aq) — Munich, Germany
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