Senior Project & Program Manager (Innovation & Funding Programs)

Das ist der Job

About Us At GATE Space, we develop green, chemical in‑space propulsion solutions for the NewSpace economy.

Darum lohnt es sich

Drawing on years of experience developing rocket engines, our team is chasing the dream of a thriving economy in space and tackling space engineering problems with a rapid prototyping philosophy. Your Primary Tasks Identify and evaluate national, European, and international funding opportunities relevant to GATE Space.

Coordinate internal teams and external project partners to ensure successful project execution. Strong project management skills and experience with modern project management methodologies and tools. Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.

Preferred Experience with European, national, or international funding programs. About Your Employment We are looking for a full‑time team member to join us as soon as possible.

This position is based on‑site in Vienna, Austria , with occasional travel to partner organizations, customers, conferences, and industry events across Europe and internationally.

A highly motivated and ambitious international team working to redefine in‑space mobility. #J-18808-Ljbffr We focus on the development of two products: the GATE Jetpack – a plug‑and‑play mobility solution for satellite missions – and the GATE Thruster – the world’s first chemical propulsion system capable of highly responsive deep throttling and differential thrust stabilization.

About Your Role As Senior Program & Project Manager at GATE Space , you will play a key role in securing and managing public funding that accelerates the development of next‑generation space technologies.

You will be responsible for identifying funding opportunities, coordinating proposal development, managing funded projects, and maintaining relationships with funding agencies, research institutions, industrial partners, and public stakeholders.

Working closely with engineering, business development, and executive leadership, you will support the entire funding lifecycle—from opportunity identification and proposal preparation to project execution, reporting, and successful project closure.

Lead and coordinate the preparation of grant proposals, funding applications, and consortium submissions. Manage funded projects throughout their lifecycle, including planning, execution, reporting, and compliance. Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, deliverables, budgets, and risk assessments.

Manage relationships with funding agencies, public authorities, research institutions, and industrial partners. Prepare technical and administrative reports required by funding organizations. Support contract negotiations, consortium agreements, and project governance activities.

Ensure compliance with funding requirements, reporting obligations, and applicable regulations. Qualifications Required Technical degree in Engineering such as Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Natural Sciences, or a related field.

Minimum 6 years of experience in project management within the space sector, or 10 years of experience in complex project and program management. Demonstrated experience winning publicly funded projects. Demonstrated experience managing publicly funded projects, innovation programs, research initiatives, or similar activities.

Excellent planning, scheduling, and organizational capabilities. Proven stakeholder management and coordination experience. Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation skills. German language skills (minimum C1). Fluent English skills (spoken and written). Experience coordinating multi‑partner consortia and collaborative projects.

Familiarity with grant management, proposal writing, budgeting, and reporting. PMP, PRINCE2, IPMA, or equivalent project management certification. Experience within the aerospace, space, deep‑tech, or high‑tech sectors. EU citizenship.

What We Offer Minimum annual gross salary of EUR 75,000, with higher salary possible based on qualifications, experience, and professional background. A front‑row seat in the development and implementation of innovative space missions and technologies. The opportunity to help shape a rapidly growing European space company.

Competitive compensation package depending on qualifications and experience. Employee Stock Option Program (ESOP), ensuring you participate directly in the company’s success. Daily company‑sponsored lunch. Public transportation ticket. Flexible working hours. Direct collaboration with leading industrial, scientific, and institutional partners.