---
title: 'Principal financial controller – Industrial & central controlling at The Exploration Company'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-financial-controller-industrial-central-controlling-the-exploration-40tawwhtr6be'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-04'
---

# Principal financial controller – Industrial & central controlling at The Exploration Company

- **Company:** [The Exploration Company](https://feeny.ai/companies/the-exploration-company)
- **Location:** Bordeaux, France
- **Compensation:** €73k–€113k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-04-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-04
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/the-exploration-company/fe568b05-3fea-48a7-b614-89274ecfee12/application

**Skills:** Industrial costing, Analytical accounting, ERP systems, Data analytics, Process structuring, SG&A budgeting, Variance analysis, Audit experience, Aerospace industry experience, Aeronautics industry experience

> The Central Controller acts as a key transversal finance partner supporting development and manufacturing activities in a high-technology industrial environment. The role involves structuring analytical processes, ensuring financial data reliability, and managing operational performance through time booking, cost ra...

## Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building innovative aerospace technologies that advance the future of space transportation.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Head of Controlling, you will be a key transversal finance partner supporting both development and manufacturing activities within a high-technology industrial environment.

You will structure our analytical processes, safeguard the reliability of our financial data, and help operational teams steer performance.

## Key Responsibilities

- Industrial costing & labor cost management — Lead the time-booking system (rules, compliance, data quality) and define/maintain internal hourly rates, analysing actual vs. budget and over/under-absorption.
- Analytical master data — Manage cost centers, cost objects and allocations, ensuring consistency across all financial systems.
- Industrial financial processes — Design and maintain processes around manufacturing orders, align operational/analytical/accounting data, and support costing methodologies and production valuation.
- Monthly closing — Own analytical closing (timesheet validation, cost-allocation controls, manufacturing-order closure) and analyse standard vs. actual cost variances.
- SG&A budget ownership — Lead the central SG&A budgeting process, deliver variance analysis, and support department heads in managing their costs.
- Planning & business partnering — Contribute to budgeting, forecasting and business-planning cycles, and provide profitability and investment analysis.
- Continuous improvement — Drive finance transformation and ERP projects, and act as our best-practice reference for industrial controlling.

Candidate Profile

- Master’s degree in Finance or Controlling
- 8–10+ years in industrial controlling
- Mandatory experience in aerospace , aeronautics or another high-tech manufacturing industry
- Audit experience would be a plus, but not mandatory
- Strong experience in complex, multi-entity environments

## Key Skills

- Strong industrial costing expertise
- Deep understanding of analytical accounting
- Process structuring capability
- ERP and data analytics proficiency
- Strong analytical mindset and cross-functional leadership

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

- [Summer 2027 Internship (Software)](https://feeny.ai/job/summer-2027-internship-software-the-exploration-company-california-rxw3vmam6adc) — California
- [Summer 2027 Internship (Engineering)](https://feeny.ai/job/summer-2027-internship-engineering-the-exploration-company-houston-84v9kag2vqwh) — Houston, TX
- [Spring 2027 Internship (Software)](https://feeny.ai/job/spring-2027-internship-software-the-exploration-company-california-sqxb8kqnnga7) — California
- [Spring 2027 Internship (Engineering)](https://feeny.ai/job/spring-2027-internship-engineering-the-exploration-company-houston-w359stqws4eb) — Houston, TX
- [CAD & PLM Administration Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/cad-plm-administration-intern-the-exploration-company-munich-vs3eyxgrgdyr) — Munich, Germany
- [Test Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/test-technician-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-vfkqxr9kq453) — Bordeaux, France
- [MAIT Additive Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mait-additive-manufacturing-engineer-the-exploration-company-dusseldorf-gbmqpvmtct7b) — Düsseldorf, Germany
- [GNC Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/gnc-engineer-the-exploration-company-munich-51xp7nehwpad) — Munich, Germany
- [Software Engineer – Mission Control Software](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-mission-control-software-the-exploration-company-munich-c72njec369dw) — Munich, Germany
- [Senior Composite Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-composite-engineer-the-exploration-company-munich-vngn7kxh5w5h) — Munich, Germany