R&D and Innovation Manager (Space Technology) (m/f/d)

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.

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.

About the Role

As R&D and Innovation Manager, you own Infinite Orbits Germany's research and innovation agenda in sensing and autonomy technologies — spanning RF, optical, docking and robotics hardware, as well as the data postprocessing and object detection software that turns their output into mission value. Beyond driving German-market R&D, you help push product development for the wider Infinite Orbits Group, feeding German engineering excellence and technology access directly into the Group's product roadmap. You identify technology opportunities relevant to the German and European market, build the company's university and research-institution network, and secure non-dilutive funding to support technology maturation. You are the primary driver of Infinite Orbits' presence in the German innovation ecosystem, working closely with the Engineering Team to align research priorities with the company's technical roadmap and with Group entities to leverage existing technology developments.