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Lead Procurement In-House Engine development

Lead procurement for innovative aerospace engine development at The Exploration Company in Bordeaux.

Location
Bordeaux, France
Compensation
Not disclosed
Level
lead
Type
full time

Posted by employer 1 day ago

First seen on Joblaze 18 hours ago

Last verified on the company career page 18 hours ago

What you'll build

  • Define sourcing strategies for development hardware
  • Lead major negotiations and ensure contracts address scope
  • Own procurement activities from early supplier engagement
  • Maintain an integrated procurement plan for assigned programs
  • Lead and develop the Principal Storm Procurement role

Must have

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management or a related field
  • Significant procurement experience supporting complex hardware development
  • Experience negotiating technically demanding development and manufacturing contracts
  • Demonstrated experience leading procurement teams
  • Experience supporting prototype builds or testing

Nice to have

  • Experience developing engines or propulsion systems for Spacecraft

Requirements

Education
Bachelor's degree
Visa
Sponsorship available

Not disclosed in this posting: compensation, years of experience, work arrangement.

Benefits

Relocation Assistance

Joblaze summary

The Lead Procurement In-House Engine Development role at The Exploration Company involves overseeing procurement strategies for internally developed engines and future programs, ensuring alignment with engineering requirements and delivery milestones. Key skills include advanced negotiation, supplier management, and a strong technical background in aerospace or propulsion systems. This position is suited for experienced procurement professionals who can lead teams and navigate complex hardware development environments. The role emphasizes collaboration across engineering and program teams to support innovative aerospace technologies.

Joblaze insights

  • Listed today — first seen on Joblaze October 7, 2026. Last confirmed on The Exploration Company's careers page October 7, 2026.

Quick facts

Does The Exploration Company sponsor work visas for this role?
Yes — the posting indicates visa sponsorship is available for the right candidate.
What seniority level is this role?
The Exploration Company targets lead candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?
Full-time for this Lead Procurement In-House Engine development role at The Exploration Company.

From the original posting

Reports to: Head of Procurement

Role Overview

We are looking for a Lead In-house Development Procurement to lead procurement for TEC’s internally developed engines and assigned future programs. You will own procurement strategy and supplier delivery across Scirocco, Storm and the future-program perimeter. You will translate evolving engineering requirements into sourcing plans, robust contracts and supplier commitments that support development and testing milestones. You will build dedicated procurement capability for these programs while respecting TEC’s overall priority of delivering Nyx Earth.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier and Contract Management

  • Define sourcing strategies for development hardware, components and specialist services within the assigned programs.

  • Identify and develop suppliers capable of meeting demanding technical requirements and evolving development schedules.

  • Lead major negotiations and ensure contracts address scope, technical annexes, delivery milestones, acceptance, intellectual property and change management.

  • Monitor supplier performance and lead recovery plans for critical delivery or technical issues.

  • Assess supply risks, including single-source dependencies, capacity constraints and long-lead items.

Development Procurement

  • Own procurement activities from early supplier engagement and RFQs through contract execution and delivery.

  • Work with Engineering and program teams to establish clear procurement packages and realistic sourcing schedules.

  • Ensure technical requirements and changes flow into supplier contracts with appropriate cost and schedule visibility.

  • Support prototype builds, test campaigns and successive hardware iterations.

  • Coordinate test hardware and test-stand requirements with the indirect procurement and DMP teams, assigning clear ownership for each package.

  • Ensure procurement activity follows company sourcing, approval and quality requirements.

Strategic Leadership

  • Maintain an integrated procurement plan for Scirocco, Storm and assigned future programs.

  • Allocate team capacity according to approved program milestones and company priorities.

  • Develop supplier capability for progression from development hardware toward repeatable manufacture.

  • Identify opportunities to reuse suppliers, contractual approaches and purchasing experience across programs.

  • Resolve resource and supplier conflicts with the Nyx procurement lead, escalating decisions that could affect Nyx delivery.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

  • Lead and develop the Principal Storm Procurement role and the procurement managers responsible for lunar lander and future-program activities.

  • Delegate Storm procurement leadership to the Principal Storm Procurement, with the Storm Procurement Manager reporting through that role.

  • Set clear accountability for supplier strategy, negotiations, execution and escalation.

  • Work closely with Engineering, program leadership, Quality, Finance and the other procurement leads.

  • Provide the Head of Procurement with a consolidated assessment of delivery risks, commercial exposure and required decisions.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management or a related field, or equivalent experience.

  • Significant procurement experience supporting complex hardware development in aerospace, propulsion or a comparable engineering environment.

  • Experience negotiating technically demanding development and manufacturing contracts.

  • Demonstrated experience leading procurement teams and managing suppliers through changing requirements.

  • Experience supporting prototype builds, testing or the transition from development into production.

Skills

  • Strong technical understanding and the ability to challenge incomplete or ambiguous requirements constructively.

  • Advanced negotiation and commercial risk management skills.

  • Ability to manage technical annexes, contractual flow-down and change-control exposure.

  • Sound judgment when balancing development speed, cost, quality and delivery.

  • Ability to develop senior procurement professionals and delegate meaningful ownership.

  • Clear, concise communication of risks, options and recommendations.

  • Experience developing engines or propulsion systems for Spacecraft is a strong plus

Why Join Us

  • Help deliver Nyx Earth and develop the capabilities behind TEC’s future vehicles and engines.

  • Take ownership of a procurement function with a direct impact on company milestones.

  • Lead and develop a team in a collaborative, international engineering environment.

  • We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind 

Standard company text repeated across The Exploration Company's postings is omitted here.

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