Role Overview

Thorn SDS is a specialist Managed Service Provider dedicated to helping technology-driven organisations and professionals succeed in some of the world’s most demanding environments—Space, Defence, and Security.

We operate at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, mission-critical operations, and trusted partnerships. Our teams support complex programmes where precision, reliability, and expertise truly matter, enabling our customers to focus on delivering innovation with confidence.

This role sits within our German business, and will be located in the Darmstadt area, at the heart of Europe’s space operations community. Alternatively, there is the option of undertaking this role from the Netherlands. Either way you will be working as part of an international organisation, European Space Agency (ESA) that values technical excellence, collaboration, and long-term relationships—working on programmes that shape the future of space and security.

In this role, you will provide Integrated Operations Engineering Services to cutting-edge missions, each pushing the boundaries of space-based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). From low Earth orbit navigation satellites to optical inter-satellite links and advanced geodetic techniques, you will help transform innovative concepts into operational reality.

The role is initially offered on a Fixed-Term Contract basis until December 2026 with the possibility to transition into a permanent position after this date.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the Mission Operational Concept, ensuring operational requirements are embedded from the earliest project phases.

• Coordinate engineering, development, and validation activities with segment primes and subcontractors.

• Ensure timely implementation and validation of Flight Operations Procedures (FOPs) and Ground Operations Procedures (GOPs) through dedicated and system-level campaigns.

• Actively support project milestones by participating in reviews, generating and addressing Review Item Discrepancies (RIDs), and following up on actions.

• Maintain alignment of operational activities across space, ground, and operations segments, in close collaboration with system teams.

• Oversee operations and ground segment services throughout design, implementation, and delivery, ensuring consistency with the agreed operational concept.

• Monitor industrial service performance, including SLAs, KPIs, risk assessment, and mitigation.

• Support AIV (Assembly, Integration & Verification) activities from an operational perspective.

• Liaise closely with the Technical Responsible to ensure effective and high-quality service provision.

Required Expertise

Essential

• Proven experience in defining and implementing Operational Concepts and Operational Activities for space missions.

• Strong capability in requirements management, including requirement breakdown, traceability, and verification across multiple levels.

• Experience monitoring industrial services, including SLA/KPI management and risk assessment.

Desirable

• Experience in AIV activities.

• Background in the space sector, with exposure to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) or Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) systems.

 What We’re Looking For

You are a systems-minded engineer who thrives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. You combine technical depth with operational insight, and you’re comfortable coordinating across disciplines, organisations, and mission phases. You enjoy shaping how missions are operated—not just designing them.

Why Join This Programme?

• Work on first-of-a-kind navigation and geodetic missions

• Contribute to the future of global navigation, timing, and Earth reference systems

• Operate at the heart of an innovation-driven FutureNAV programme

• Be part of missions that redefine what satellite navigation can achieve

Benefits

• 20 Statutory Vacation Days, + 10 Additional Vacation Days.

• German Public Holiday Days + Organisation Specific Holidays

• Subsidised Deutsche Bahn Ticket

• Subsidy to Welfare Activities

• Subsidy to Organisation Social Clubs

• Local Thorn Office with Coworking Spaces, Gym, Leisure Activities and Canteen

• Individual Educational Programme Support

• Access to a wide range of Training Material and Programmes

• Flexible and Hybrid Working Options

Apply

If you have the expertise to support this requirement and are eager to make an impact in a critical role, please apply today!

All applicants must already hold the Right to Work in the relevant location as sponsorship cannot be provided for this role.

** Please note that the working language for this mission is English. To ensure effective communication throughout the process, all applications / CVs must be submitted in English. **