Procurement Manager -Thermal Protection

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

In your capacity as a Procurement Manager, you will report directly to the Procurement Team Lead Physical Design, day to day your duties will include:

• Taking responsibility for all Suppliers (potential and contracted) in the Thermal protection perimeter

• Executing and contributing to the evolution of the Source to Contract process in this perimeter, including:

• Scouting

• Bid phase (Rfx)

• Down selection

• Contract negotiation and award

• Contract execution

• End to end responsibility for the supervision of suppliers (before and after contract signature)

• Supporting the Thermal Control System / ECLSS engineering team in defining and (where necessary) modifying the Make or Buy Strategy for their perimeter

• Continuously collaborating with and challenging your suppliers to meet challenging cost and schedule targets (EAC)

• Conduct Risk and Opportunity management and ensure proper mitigation actions are put in place

• Ensure that databases are up to date and accurate (ERP-ODOO, Internal contract status file and any ad-hoc file upon demand)

• Reporting on a regular basis to your manager

What we would love to see from you

Qualifications / Background

• Master's degree in business administration, Industrial Engineering or Business Law (or Bachelor's degree + equivalent work experience)

• At least 3 years' work experience in a role working with complex contracts with related to a technical product (Sales / bid management and Procurement / commodity management both qualify)

• Proven track record of working in a complex technical environment where new technologies are developed

• Any legal expertise with a focus on EU commercial law would be a big plus

Skills and Behaviours

• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with colleagues from technical disciplines / functions

• Manage a high workload autonomously by prioritising urgent items and informing stakeholders proactively when something is late or at risk

• Driven to sign and execute contracts, focusing on the key deliverables

• Fluency in English is a must, German, French, Italian or Spanish is a plus.

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.