R&D and Innovation Manager (Space & Defense Technology)

Job Description

• R&D agenda ownership: Define and drive the German R&D roadmap across sensing and other technologies — RF, optical, robotics, docking, data postprocessing, and object detection — identifying gaps and opportunities that strengthen Infinite Orbits' competitive and technical positioning.
• Group product development contribution: Feed German technology developments, research partnerships, and engineering excellence into the wider Infinite Orbits Group's product roadmap, ensuring German innovation strengthens the Group's overall offering.
• University & research partnerships: Own and grow relationships with German universities and research institutions active in these fields; identify and structure collaboration, thesis, and joint-research opportunities.
• Funding program ownership: Identify, pursue, and manage applications to national and European funding programs for sensing and autonomy technology development, from scoping through submission and reporting.
• Technology scouting: Track emerging RF, optical, robotics, data postprocessing, and object detection technologies and potential partners or suppliers relevant to RPO and in-orbit servicing, assessing fit with Infinite Orbits' roadmap.
• Group coordination: Work with Engineering in Toulouse and other Group entities to align German R&D activities in these areas with the broader Group technology roadmap and avoid duplication of effort.
• Stakeholder engagement: Represent Infinite Orbits at innovation-focused events, university engagements, and research consortia relevant to sensing and autonomy technology in the German space and defense sector.

Profile

Education & Experience

• Engineering or scientific degree, or equivalent, in a field relevant to RF systems, optical systems, robotics, or software/data processing; PhD or strong research background a plus.
• Experience in R&D application engineering, innovation management, or research collaboration in sensing or autonomy technology, ideally in the space, defense, or deep-tech sector.
• Track record of securing and managing publicly funded R&D projects (national or EU level) is a strong plus.

Skills & Other Requirements

• Working technical understanding of technologies as applied to in-orbit servicing missions — RF systems, optical sensing/communication, robotics, data postprocessing, and object detection. Deep expertise in one or two of these areas is expected; working literacy in the others is sufficient.
• Strong network-building ability with universities, research institutions, and innovation ecosystems across these technology domains.
• Solid understanding of funding program structures and application processes.
• Comfortable owning a new function independently in an early-stage, cross-border team environment.
• Fluent in German and English.

We offer

• A founding role shaping Infinite Orbits Germany's R&D and innovation strategy in sensing and autonomy technologies from the ground up, with direct influence on the wider Group's product roadmap.
• Direct exposure to Germany's university, research, and innovation-funding ecosystem in the space and defense sector.

Additional Information

Recruitment Process:

1.​ Initial screening with HR

2.​ Interview with the Managing Director of Infinite Orbits Germany

3.​ Case study session with selected members of the Infinite Orbits Group

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Quelle: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), Tabelle; dl-de/by-2-0; eigene Berechnung