The Exploration Company

Head of Europe Government Sales at The Exploration Company (Munich, Germany)

The Exploration Company· Munich, Germany·

Role details

Work type
Hybrid
Employment
Full-Time
Level
VP / Head of

The Exploration Company at a glance

European space-transport startup building Nyx, a reusable cargo capsule, and Storm, a high-thrust rocket engine.

The Exploration Company is building a full-stack space transportation platform out of Europe: Nyx, a reusable cargo capsule that docks with space stations in low-Earth orbit and returns cargo to Earth, and Storm, a high-thrust staged-combustion rocket engine. It designs its own thrusters, avionics, flight software, and heat shield in-house.

$230M raised · latest: Series B · $160M · 2024 · backed by Balderton Capital, Plural, Bessemer Venture Partners, NGP Capital

Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity.

Key Responsibilities

  • Actively promote The Exploration Company to institutions in Europe to generate demand for cargo, space engines, moon and in-orbit services,
  • Build, own, and deliver the sales strategy, revenue targets, and pipeline across priority markets and accounts
  • Map target segments and decision makers; open doors and build trusted, senior-level relationships
  • Identify new opportunities and leads; qualify, prioritize, and maintain process discipline and accurate cash-in forecasting
  • Lead captures and bids end-to-end: win strategy, solution shaping, proposal management, pricing, and reviews
  • Negotiate and close Consortium Agreement, SoWs, and partnership agreements in coordination with Future business, Legal and Finance
  • Ensure what is sold is deliverable by writing the bids in cooperation with Programme teams (Nyx or Future projects); run smooth handover to Programs and follow through to acceptance and invoicing
  • Represent the company at key events and with institutions (ESA, EU, NATO, agencies, clusters) through workshops, conferences, and meetings
  • Install clear sales KPIs and cadence (weekly report, Monthly forecast); report performance and to executive management
  • Recruit, coach, and manage a small, high-performing team and foster a customer-centric culture

Reports to: Chief Government Officer Profile

  • 10 years + of experience leading B2G sales in the space, aerospace, defense, high-tech, or another complex technical industry.
  • Proven track record of closing large, multi-stakeholder, long-cycle contracts.
  • Experience selling to institutional customers internationally.
  • Strong understanding of technical products, systems engineering, programme delivery, and contractual risk.
  • Experience managing strategic accounts, capture campaigns, tenders, and partnership ecosystems.
  • Previous experience building or scaling a sales function is highly desirable.

Location: Munich, Bordeaux, Paris, or Turin (hybrid)

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.

Why work at The Exploration Company

  • 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
  • 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.

Application questions