{"id":240696,"url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-program-manager","title":"Storm Test Bench Program Manager","company":{"id":51900,"name":"The Exploration Company","domain":"exploration.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/the-exploration-company","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":90,"open_postings":27,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.185,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":90,"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"}},"role":"Management","role_family":"Management","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Munich, Germany"],"countries":["DE"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":57000,"max_usd":119000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":410},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ECSS","optional":false},{"name":"Agile","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-04T17:51:36Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-06-04","last_verified_at":"2026-11-01T23:12:09Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":150,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":[],"days_open":149},"description":"Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity.\nStorm is TEC’s high-performance liquid rocket engine program, developed to support next-generation launch and space transportation applications. The Storm development strategy relies heavily on ground testing, from early development models to qualification and acceptance campaigns. The engine test bench is a critical enabler of the program, and its on-time delivery is essential to maintain the Storm development schedule.\nAs Storm Engine Test Bench Program Manager, you are responsible for driving the on-time delivery of the Storm engine test bench development program. You will ensure execution discipline across the bench development workstream: integrating schedules, tracking deliverables, coordinating stakeholders and suppliers, anticipating blockers, and escalating decisions to keep the program on track. In addition, you will act as the primary point of contact for identifying and securing a suitable test bench location, coordinating the site selection process with internal stakeholders and external parties.\nKey responsibilities\nProgram planning and delivery (schedule, scope, cost tracking)\nBuild, maintain, and continuously improve the integrated test bench delivery plan (design maturity gates, procurement lead times, manufacturing, installation, integration, and commissioning support activities).\n\nOwn the critical path, dependencies, and milestone readiness criteria (from a delivery perspective).\n\nTrack progress, identify schedule threats early, and drive recovery plans (re-sequencing, parallelization, expediting, resourcing proposals).\n\nMaintain program routines (weekly reviews, action tracking, decision logs) to ensure execution discipline.\n\nCross-functional coordination and communication\nAnimate weekly/monthly routines: bench program reviews, schedule reviews, and interface meetings\n\nEnsure alignment between propulsion engineering, test engineering, facilities/infrastructure, procurement, quality, and site teams\n\nPrepare concise reporting for program leadership: status, risks, mitigation, upcoming decisions, and milestone readiness\n\nCoordinate preparation of key internal reviews (bench concept reviews, design/package readiness, delivery readiness checkpoints)\n\nTest bench location identification and site selection (point of contact)\nAct as the single point of contact to identify, assess, and secure a test bench location aligned with the Storm schedule and development needs.\n\nCoordinate the site selection process (timeline, stakeholder alignment, decision gates, and documentation) and ensure decisions are taken in time to protect the critical path.\n\nWith support from the engineering team (who define requirements and technical needs), consolidate the test site needs impacting the choice of location and translate them into:\nA practical location assessment checklist (capabilities, utilities, access, constraints)\n\nA comparison of candidate sites (schedule, cost, readiness, risks)\n\nClear decision packages for leadership (trade-offs, recommended option, fallback plans)\n\nCoordinate interfaces with external stakeholders as needed (site operators, landlords/partners, utilities, local service providers), in alignment with internal owners.\n\nProcurement and supplier coordination\nCoordinate long-lead procurement tracking\n\nSupport supplier selection and onboarding (RFI/RFQ process coordination, delivery tracking, expediting)\n\nMonitor supplier performance and ensure timely resolution of delivery issues, NCR handling coordination, and logistics readiness\n\nEnsure documentation deliverables from suppliers are collected and integrated\n\nIntegration and commissioning readiness support\nEnsure prerequisites for integration/commissioning are planned and tracked: procedures availability, resources, tooling, spares, training needs and documentation readiness (owned by responsible teams)\n\nTrack open points, coordinate closure plans, and ensure readiness evidence is available for management decisions.\n\nSupport lessons-learned capture and incorporation into the next iterations of bench capability\n\nWhat we would like to see from you\nMaster’s degree (or equivalent) in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or similar\n\nSignificant experience delivering complex test infrastructure or propulsion tests programs\n\nProven program management experience (planning, budgeting, risk, suppliers)\n\nStrong understanding of propulsion testing, cryogenic systems, and hazardous operations\n\nExperience with LOX/methane engine testing or cryogenic facilities\n\nFamiliarity with European space programs and standards (e.g. ECSS, ESA-style reviews)\n\nExperience with regulated industrial sites, permitting, or environmental compliance\n\nBackground in high-cadence test operations\n\nAbility to lead cross-functional teams and make sound technical and operational decisions\n\nStrong ownership and delivery mindset\n\nSystems-level thinking and interface management\n\nCalm decision-making during high-pressure test activities\n\nStrong documentation and reporting discipline\n\nFluent in English; French or German is a plus.\n\nWhy you should join us!\nWhat makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:\nWe’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind\n\nWe’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them\n\nWe 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?\n\nWe'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. \nThe 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. \n\nAll 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. \nIf 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6755,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"English","level":"Advanced (C1)","optional":false}]},"benefits":["Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Aerospace Manufacturing","Space Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-05T10:27:26Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":21,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.589,"p_room":0.36,"age_days":149,"expected_fill_days":90,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-program-manager","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-program-manager.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-01T23:23:58Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":35604,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-02T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":51900},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=51900"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-program-manager"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-program-manager"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-program-manager"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/the-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-program-manager\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-program-manager"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":240696}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"exploration.space","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":240696},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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