Government Relations - Germany

Job description

Job description Team & Reporting Line: Our Mission At constellr, we're harnessing the power of space to solve one of Earth’s greatest challenges: climate resilience & security in a changing world. Our thermal satellite constellation delivers the most accurate land surface temperature data on the market, equipping commercial players, governments, defence agencies, and global institutions with the thermal intelligence they need to make strategic decisions – from national security and infrastructure to agriculture and climate resilience. This is not a concept on a slide. Our first two SkyBee satellites have been in orbit since 2025, each flying a cryocooled thermal infrared instrument on a microsatellite, and our next satellites are already in the pipeline. Backed by a €37M Series A, we are now opening a new site in Munich to bring assembly, integration and test (AIT) in-house. With offices in Brussels, Freiburg, Munich, Berlin and Toulouse, our multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists and strategists is turning flight data from orbit into the next generation of thermal satellites. Your Role You will lead constellr’s senior-level engagement with national and regional government, public authorities, defence organisations and space institutions within Germany. This is an important, externally focused role requiring credibility, autonomy and an established government and political network. You will represent constellr with senior stakeholders, develop trusted long-term relationships and support the identification, influence and capture of strategic government and sovereign opportunities. Building an effective working bridge between constellr’s government team and our commercial, product and technical teams, you will translate political influence, policy and budget developments and our technology and product roadmap into long-term strategic capability programmes for the German government. The role is based in our new Berlin office, with regular travel to our Munich HQ and across Germany and Europe. Key responsibilities Lead constellr’s government relations and political stakeholder engagement for Germany, at both parliamentary and ministerial levels. Build constellr’s engagement along the federal budget cycle, from ministry planning to the Budget Committee and its rapporteurs, so that capability needs turn into budget lines and funded programmes. Bring constellr into interministerial coordination on space and security policy (Federal Foreign Office, BMVg, BMFTR, Federal Chancellery) and into German-led international formats such as NATO, EU and Ukraine support programmes. Develop and maintain trusted relationships with the strategic, operational, administrative, subject-matter and budget units within the German Government and beyond, including ministries, government agencies, committees, political associations and other relevant public-sector stakeholders. Identify, qualify and shape strategic programmes, procurements, partnerships and collaborative opportunities from an early stage to ensure relevance and sponsorship for constellr. Support capture activities through stakeholder mapping, positioning and outreach, intelligence gathering and partner coordination. Work with technical, product and commercial teams to translate customer requirements into credible mission concepts, proposals and partnership models. Provide structured regional intelligence on policy, procurement, budgets, institutional developments and competitor activity. Advise constellr’s leadership on national positioning, engagement priorities and partnership strategy. Represent constellr at relevant industry events, government forums, conferences and bilateral engagements, and host national events with key stakeholders. Ensure all national engagement is conducted in line with constellr’s legal, compliance, security and export control requirements, including the transparency obligations of the German Lobbying Register Act (Lobbyregistergesetz). Job requirements About you Required: You are credible and confident in senior government and industry environments, while being collegiate and effective in a fast-paced international organisation. You are politically astute, discreet and able to build long-term, trust-based institutional relationships, while being commercially minded, proactive and disciplined in execution. You know how positions are coordinated between ministries and with international partners, and you can translate complex technology into the language of foreign, security and budget policy. You are motivated by complex missions with strategic, societal and security relevance. Required: At least 7 years in German federal politics or government, ideally in one of these roles: Federal Foreign Office: diplomat with experience in security policy, NATO or EU affairs or Central and Eastern Europe, ideally including a posting abroad. Bundestag: staffer to a Member of the Bundestag, a parliamentary group or a committee secretariat, ideally Budget, Defence, Foreign Affairs or Research/Space. Federal budget: experience in a ministry budget unit (e.g. BMVg, BMFTR, Federal Ministry of Finance) or supporting Budget Committee rapporteurs. You know how a programme becomes a budget line. Industry: senior government affairs at a defence, space or security company or industry association with a strong federal track record. An exceptional political network and the ability to leverage relationships effectively and wisely. Demonstrable experience in identifying, shaping and securing complex government opportunities and public-sector programmes. A deep understanding of government decision-making, procurement processes and institutional stakeholder dynamics. Excellent communication, negotiation and executive stakeholder management skills. A team player, able to share and leverage knowledge to constellr’s advantage while operating autonomously, with sound judgement and sensitivity. A collaborative, structured and highly driven working style. German at native or C2 level and business-fluent English (C1 or higher). Willingness to travel regularly across Germany and Europe. Nice to Have : Previous senior experience within defence, intelligence, national security or sovereign space programmes. Knowledge of Earth observation, satellite systems, ISR, geospatial intelligence or advanced sensing technologies. Experience working with European, NATO or multinational government programmes. Experience in German-Ukrainian government, security or industry cooperation. French at working level. Why join constellr? High-Impact National Security Mission: Be part of an ambitious mission to launch the world’s first commercial thermal infrared constellation, delivering sovereign-grade "behavioural" intelligence from space to close critical blind spots for defence, intelligence, and maritime surveillance agencies. Fast-Paced "New Space" Innovation: Work at the leading edge of a rapidly evolving defence sector. By leveraging modern, agile New Space methodologies, you will help design, build, and deploy dual-use thermal payloads into operational orbit at a speed and scale that traditional aerospace models simply cannot match. Broad Interdisciplinary Exposure: Accelerate your professional growth by collaborating daily with a diverse, international cohort of astrophysicists, software developers, and defence-system engineers. Inclusive & Scientific Culture: Join a high-trust team deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and scientific excellence, where academic curiosity is paired with high autonomy and a flat hierarchy. Financial Upside & Well-being: Benefit from a Virtual Share Option Plan (VSOP) for permanent employees, giving you a true stake in the company's growth, alongside highly flexible hybrid working models.