Satellite Chief Engineer Telecom Space Architectures; m​/f​/d) in Germany

To support our team, Airbus Defence and Space is seeking a Chief Engineer Satellite Telecommunications (f/m/d). We are seeking a Chief Engineer (f/m/d) to spearhead the comprehensive design, development, and validation & verification (V&V) of satellite systems for an upcoming large-scale satellite telecommunications program in Germany. In this pivotal role, your initial focus is on satellite architecture and design specifications for the entire space segment, derived from customer and user requirements.

You are responsible for all engineering contributions and will lead the satellite systems engineering team across different sites. Functionally contributing to the transnational satellite team based in Toulouse, you will enable a strong footprint in Germany for national applications. The technical spectrum covers the entire satellite system with a strong product mindset, requiring deep understanding of RF and optical payloads, LEO satellite systems, telecommunication, and data transmission protocols.

Your Location At the Airbus site in Immenstaad on Lake Constance, you work where the future of Connected Intelligence, Space, and Air Power is created. In an environment that offers vision, you shape technological innovations across domains. Our site lives from dialogue:
On campus, you will meet a unique network of experts in satellite technology, military aviation, cyber security, artificial intelligence, combat cloud, and ground support of tomorrow. Our collaboration is also characterized by dynamism – in agile teams, we address the most complex questions, from AI-supported Earth observation to secure cloud architecture. Anyone looking for technological excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration will find the ideal environment here.

• Fair Compensation & Extras:
  Attractive salary and individual supplementary benefits, e.g., company pension schemes, mobility offers (e.g., job bike leasing), or employee discounts at partner companies according to our applicable guidelines.
• Time for You (and Your Relatives): 30 days of annual leave according to the collective agreement (35h/week); work-life balance (flexitime, mobile working, part-time, job sharing, sabbatical).
• Easy Career Progression:
  Excellent further education opportunities and international, group-wide development perspectives.
• Well-being at the Workplace:
  Company doctor, comprehensive health services (sports courses, prevention programs, etc.), canteen and cafeteria, on-site daycare center.
• Diversity Connects:
  Working in a diverse environment with more than 140 nationalities, where exchange, support, and diversity are lived everyday values.

• End-to-End Architecture & Technical Leadership:
  Lead as national focal point the E2E satellite architecture, design, and specification for the entire program life cycle (Phases 0/A to
  
  E). Define technical specifications, engineering deliverables, technical WBS, and schedules structured for industrial execution.
• CONOPS & Systems Engineering:
  Support the customer with Satellite CONOPS, E2E Satellite Performance, and V/V strategies. Translate customer/RFP requirements into efficient architectures, define payload mission/operational concepts, perform structured trade-offs, and maintain system performance budgets.
• Project &
  
  Risk Management:
  
  Manage technical definition, deliverables, schedule, cost, quality, and technical risk management up to final customer acceptance. Approve engineering resource budgets, ensure resource availability, and manage technology development plans for key technologies.
• Industrial & Stakeholder Interface:
  Serve as the technical point of contact for industrial partners to enable optimized design solutions. Coordinate interfaces across Space, Ground, Launch, and User segments. Ensure safety review requirements are met.
• Process Adaptation & Support:
  Adapt standard product development processes to be lean (with CTO agreement). Support industrialization, production, integrated logistics, and continuous safe operations.
• Travel:
  Willingness to undertake business travel approximately twice per month within Germany/Europe.

• Education & Experience:
  
  University degree in Engineering with 10+ years of professional experience (in-depth space knowledge required), including 5 to 8 years of dedicated experience in Systems Engineering.
• Domain Expertise:
  Proven experience with optical/RF communication…