Here at The Exploration Company, we are building innovative aerospace technologies that advance the future of space transportation.
The operations team is looking for a Site Director (Germany) to own safe, compliant, and efficient operations across our sites in Munich (includes integration halls, offices, labs, and test areas). Reporting to Lead Operations, you will lead vendors or work hands-on to deliver facilities reliability, compliant execution, and friction‑free activities.
Responsibilities
Lead day‑to‑day test site operations: reception, goods‑in/out, utilities, janitorial, waste, test site activities (together with the site manager and logistics responsible)
Plan and execute preventive and corrective maintenance; manage work orders, spares, and service contracts to keep critical utilities running.
Run office/lab/test‑area fit‑outs and moves: contractor pre‑qualification, risk assessments, permit‑to‑work (PTW), and safe commissioning in occupied areas.
Manage leases and landlord relationships; track obligations, service charges, and issues to resolution.
Coordinate inbound/outbound logistics, including dangerous goods with certified partners; ensure yard/dock safety and traffic plans.
Implement the company EHS Management System on site (defined by the EHS Engineer): chemical and waste controls, PPE, and legal registers; drive incident reporting, root‑cause analysis, and corrective actions.
Own emergency preparedness: evacuation plans, drills, first‑aiders/fire wardens, and liaison with local authorities as needed.
Operate physical security: access control/badging, visitor management, CCTV, key control, and guard services.
Implement export‑control physical safeguards (aligned with our Internal Compliance Program): controlled rooms/cabinets, visitor escorting, signage, and disposal procedures.
Build and manage the site OPEX/CAPEX budget; run project stage‑gates, vendor SOWs, and change orders; deliver projects on time and on budget with as‑builts and O&M docs.
Provide accurate records and reporting for audits, Quality Management System expectations, and ESG/B‑Corp data (energy, water, waste, recycling).
Lead and coach the test site team and vendors; communicate proactively about works, outages, and changes.
Qualifications / Skills
5+ years leading multi‑disciplinary site or test‑site operations in Germany (industrial, aerospace, or high‑hazard environments).
Proven experience planning and executing propulsion/engine or high‑energy tests (stand allocation, crew rostering, TRR/DR cadence, anomaly management).
Strong knowledge of German EHS and DREAL environmental regulations (particularly with ICPE sites) and practical experience with contractor controls in hazardous operations.
Comfortable hands‑on during test campaigns; disciplined communication and decision‑making under time pressure.
Familiarity with cryogenic and high‑pressure fluid systems, instrumentation/DAQ, and interlock/safing concepts (you will not design these, but must govern readiness and safe operation).
Demonstrated success delivering fit‑outs/commissioning, running maintenance programs, and closing audit actions.
Budget ownership (OPEX/CAPEX), vendor negotiation, and basic project governance.
Familiarity with QMS expectations (ISO 9001/9100), CMMS tools, and MS 365/SharePoint; basic ability to read/redline site drawings.
Languages: German (native‑level) and English (professional working proficiency).
Leadership: organized, service‑oriented, decisive; able to set expectations and coach teams and suppliers; willing to support off‑hours/weekend test ops when needed.
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.