D-Orbit is looking for a Senior Project Lead Engineer to join our Business Unit Government & Defense, based in Lomazzo (CO).
In this role, you will act as the technical reference responsible for steering the engineering development of complex institutional and defense space programs.
You will work closely with engineering teams, project managers, institutional customers and key stakeholders, contributing to the successful development and delivery of complex space and defense programs by ensuring technical alignment, risk mitigation, compliance with mission requirements, and effective execution across the entire project lifecycle.
The position requires proven experience in leading space programs from early design phases through development, integration and verification, and contributes to proposal activities, technical risk management and continuous improvement of engineering and delivery approaches in line with corporate strategy and institutional market expectations. The role also contributes to proposal activities and to the definition of long-term product and technology strategies in line with market evolution and corporate objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
Act as technical lead for space programs, ensuring end-to-end technical coherence across system, subsystem and equipment levels.
Coordinate and guide multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the full project lifecycle, from Phase A/B to C/D/E.
Translate customer and mission needs into coherent system solutions, ensuring alignment between technical implementation, schedule and cost constraints.
Support the Project Manager in technical decision-making, risk assessment, and trade-off activities, contributing to project success criteria.
Ensure compliance with applicable standards and customer requirements (ECSS, institutional and defense-specific standards).
Oversee system engineering activities including requirements management, interface definition, configuration control and verification strategy.
Monitor technical progress, identify critical issues, and coordinate mitigation actions across engineering disciplines.
Lead technical reviews and represent the project during customer, internal and supplier technical meetings.
Support proposal and pre-sales activities by defining technical approaches, work breakdowns, development plans and effort estimations.
Contribute within the BU technical team to the definition of product and technology roadmaps, aligned with corporate strategy and market evolution.
Skills & Qualifications:
Minimum 10+ years of professional experience in engineering roles within the space or aerospace sector.
Proven experience as technical lead, lead engineer or system-level responsible on complex space or institutional programs.
Proven experience in institutional space programs (e.g.: ESA, MoDs, Regional space agencies), including high reliability and security driven mission contexts.
Demonstrated experience covering the full development lifecycle of a satellite program, from early mission phases (Phase A/B) through detailed design, AIT, verification, qualification and in orbit delivery.
Ability to operate effectively within multi stakeholder institutional environments, interfacing with agencies, prime contractors and international partners throughout the program lifecycle.
Strong background in space system engineering principles, including requirements, interfaces, verification and lifecycle management.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate and technically lead multidisciplinary teams (system, avionics, AIV, payload, operations).
Solid knowledge of ECSS standards and familiarity with institutional and defense program environments.
Excellent capability to interface with customers, partners and suppliers at senior technical and managerial level.
Strong analytical, leadership and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage technical risk and complexity.
Experience in proposal preparation and technical oversight of bids is considered a strong asset.
Good communication skills and willingness to operate in an international and institutional environment.
Deep knowledge of AI tools.
We offer a base salary range of 60.000 - 75.000 euro gross per year for this role, depending on experience and location, plus a performance-based variable component. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, location, and internal consistency across comparable roles.
Additional Benefits
Meal vouchers
Variable compensation
Wellhub platform, offering a wide range of fitness, wellness, and wellbeing services
Serenis platform, including unlimited individual psychotherapy, nutrition, and coaching sessions
Flexible working arrangements, including smart working options and flexible scheduling based on role and team requirements
Who we are?
Are you ready to take your career to new heights? At D-Orbit, we're pioneering the future of space logistics and transportation. Established in 2011, our company has been at the forefront of helping businesses unlock the full potential of the final frontier—profitably and sustainably.
As a member of our team, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside a diverse group of highly skilled individuals, all driven by a shared passion for innovation and excellence. So, if you are passionate about space and ready to take your ambition to new heights, join us in our global mission to push the boundaries of what's possible!
D-Orbit is part of a broader group that also includes Planetek, bringing together complementary expertise in space logistics, Earth observation, geospatial solutions, and advanced space services. Together, we share a common ambition: to enable innovative, sustainable, and high-impact solutions across the space sector.
Why join D-Orbit?
Work on missions that shape the future of space
International and multidisciplinary environment
Flexible working model
Opportunity to contribute directly to company growth
High level of autonomy and ownership
Hiring Process:
Here’s how our hiring process works—simple and straightforward:
Application Review – We carefully review applications that match the key requirements of the role. If your profile is selected for the next stage, a member of our People & Culture team will contact you directly.
We genuinely appreciate every application, even when there is not a match for the current opportunity.
Introduction Call – A conversation with the People & Culture team to get to know each other, discuss the opportunity, and align expectations.
Technical and Team Interviews – One or more interviews focused on the skills, experience, and approach relevant to the role.
Offer – If there is a strong mutual fit, we will share an offer and discuss the next steps.
The exact process may vary depending on the role.
We aim to keep candidates informed throughout the process and appreciate your patience as we carefully evaluate applications.
We’re excited to get to know you and see if you might be the next person to help us shaping the future of space!
NON-UE applicants:
At this time, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the country where the position is based.
Please note that this role requires a regular on-site presence and is not a fully remote position.
Some activities must be carried out in our facilities, many others are location-independent, and they can be performed effectively even remotely. This is why we don't measure the performance of people by how many hours they spend at the office: we only measure the outcome.
At D-Orbit, diversity and inclusivity are not just values, they are integral to our mission and the way we operate. We are committed to fostering an environment where all individuals are respected, valued, and celebrated for their unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is not only the right thing to do, but it also leads to better decision making, innovation, and overall success. We actively strive to build a culture where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work, and where all voices are heard and valued. We are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to share their ideas, and where everyone is given equal opportunities to grow and excel. We believe that our differences make us stronger, and we will continue to work diligently to create an inclusive culture at D-Orbit that reflects this belief.