Senior Bid Manager (mfd) – Space & Defence [26177]

Shape Europes Next Generation of Space and Defence Programmes

We are looking for an experienced and driven Senior Bid Manager to join our growing Space & Defence business in Germany.

In this strategic role you will lead the preparation and delivery of high-value complex proposals for institutional governmental and industrial customers across the space defence security and aerospace sectors. You will work closely with technical experts project managers commercial teams and senior leadership to deliver compelling and compliant bids that secure critical business opportunities.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to some of Europes most prestigious programmes involving satellite systems mission operations command and control systems Earth observation cybersecurity defence digitalisation and space domain awareness.

Your Responsibilities

Bid Leadership & Management

• Lead and manage the complete bid lifecycle from opportunity qualification through proposal submission and contract award;

• Develop and implement win strategies that align customer requirements with company capabilities and competitive strengths;

• Establish bid governance schedules review plans and resource allocation for major opportunities;

• Manage multiple simultaneous bids while ensuring quality compliance and timely delivery.

Proposal Development

• Analyse customer requirements tender documentation evaluation criteria and contractual condition;

• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams including engineering operations finance legal procurement and programme management;

• Develop proposal structures compliance matrices executive summaries and customer-focused value propositions;
• Ensure all submissions meet technical commercial legal and quality requirements.

Commercial & Strategic Support

• Support pricing strategy business case development and risk management activities;

• Contribute to capture planning and pre-sales activities alongside business development teams;
• Assess competitor positioning and identify differentiators and win themes;
• Support contract negotiations clarification processes customer presentations and best-and-final offer submissions.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive proposal excellence and bid management best practices;

• Contribute to process improvements lessons learned activities and proposal knowledge management;
• Mentor junior bid managers and proposal coordinators.

Qualifications :

Required Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Engineering Business Administration Aerospace Defence Studies Project Management or a related discipline;

• Minimum 8 years of experience in bid management proposal management capture management or business development;
• Proven experience delivering successful bids within the space defence aerospace security IT or engineering sectors;
• Strong knowledge of European public procurement and competitive tendering processes;
• Demonstrated experience working with customers such as:

• • • European Space Agency (ESA)

    • EUMETSAT

    • European Commission and EU Agencies

    • NATO organisations

    • German Federal Ministries and Defence Authorities

    • Major aerospace and defence primes

Languages

• Fluent German language skills (C2) both written and spoken;

• Fluent English language skills (C2) both written and spoken;

• Ability to prepare professional proposals reports presentations and customer communications in both German and English.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Excellent proposal writing and editing capabilities;

• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills;
• Experience managing cross-functional and international teams;
• Strong commercial awareness and risk management capabilities;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office SharePoint CRM systems and proposal management tools.

Desirable Qualifications

• APMP Certification (Foundation Practitioner or Professional);

• Knowledge of defence procurement regulations and security frameworks;
• Experience with large framework agreements service contracts and system integration programmes;
• Familiarity with space systems satellite operations mission planning command and control systems cybersecurity or defence digitalisation projects;
• Eligibility to obtain national or European security clearance.

Personal Attributes

You are:

• A strategic thinker with a strong customer focus;

• Highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities;
• Comfortable engaging with senior executives and technical subject matter experts;
• Results-oriented and capable of delivering under tight deadlines;
• A strong communicator who can build consensus and motivate multidisciplinary teams.

Additional Information :

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on some of Europes most challenging and innovative space and defence programmes;

• International and multicultural working environment;
• Close collaboration with leading European institutions and industrial partners;
• Competitive salary and attractive benefits package;
• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid work options;
• Professional development and certification support including APMP training;
• Clear career progression opportunities within a growing international organisation;
• A purpose-driven role contributing to Europes technological sovereignty and security.

This job can be located in Darmstadt Bremen or Munich Germany.

If you think you have what it takes for this job please send your CV (in English and in Word or PDF) by clicking on the button Apply for this job quoting job DE-HP-26177.

An exciting and dynamic international working environment awaits you!

Inclusive and committed employer our company works every day to combat all forms of discrimination and promote a respectful working environment. Thats why committed to gender diversity and overall inclusivity we encourage all applications and profiles.

Inclusive and committed employer our company works every day to combat all forms of discrimination and promote a respectful working environment. Thats why committed to gender diversity and overall inclusivity we encourage all applications and profiles.                        
Last apply date: 31/10/2026!

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time