Project Management Officer - Mission Systems (AerospaceDefense) (m/f/x)

With over 55 years of experience in designing and manufacturing composite aircraft, Grob Aircraft is the recognized technology leader in its segment and one of the world's leading providers of training aircraft for both civil and military customers. As part of Helsing, Europe's leading defence AI company, we are shaping the future of European air power. WHAT THIS ROLE REALLY IS This is a hands-on, build-it-from-scratch PMO role in a regulated aerospace and defense environment – not the leadership of an established, fully staffed corporate PMO. You will set up structures, write the first templates yourself, and work directly inside live programs. We are looking for someone who understands aerospace and defense program realities – certification logic, long lead times, qualification gates, customer and authority interfaces. This domain knowledge is essential: it is what makes the difference between a PMO that supports the program and one that slows it down. Please note: without genuine aerospace or defense program experience, you will not be effective in this role, regardless of seniority elsewhere. YOUR ROLE Establish, run, and continuously develop the Project Management Office (PMO) for our programs Provide PMO support across our program portfolio, including retrofit solutions for existing training aircraft and fully integrated platforms such as the CA-1 Europa Define, implement, and maintain project management standards, methods, processes, templates, and governance frameworks across the portfolio Set up and maintain central planning, monitoring, and controlling of budgets, timelines, milestones, and KPIs Consolidate project data into transparent dashboards and executive-level reporting, including status reports, quarterly reviews, and stage-gate assessments Act as the central point of contact for project managers, providing methodological guidance, tools, and templates Coordinate and align a broad and diverse stakeholder landscape – from customers and internal leadership to engineering disciplines, suppliers and external partners Support portfolio-level resource planning, capacity tracking, and prioritization Maintain the central risk and opportunity register; track mitigation measures and escalation paths Build and continuously improve pragmatic requirements tracking processes and tooling Drive adherence to PMO standards and support continuous improvement of project management maturity YOUR PROFILE – MUST-HAVE Degree in Business Administration, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline Several years of hands-on PMO or project controlling experience in aerospace or defense – this is a hard requirement, not a "nice to have" Solid working knowledge of aerospace/defense program logic: certification, qualification gates, milestone reviews, and authority/customer interfaces Solid understanding of project management methods, governance, and reporting standards Experience coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder environments Hands-on experience with project and requirements management tools (e.g., Jira, MS Project) Strong analytical skills and a structured, process-oriented way of working A pragmatic, roll-up-your-sleeves mentality – comfortable building from a blank page Confident communication across all organizational levels Business fluent in German (>C1) and English NICE TO HAVE Project management or PMO qualification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, IPMA) Familiarity with aerospace standards and certification Security clearance or willingness to obtain one WHAT WE OFFER A genuinely meaningful program: shaping Europe's sovereign air power The freedom and responsibility to build a PMO the way it should be – pragmatic, lean, and effective Short decision paths and direct collaboration with engineering and leadership A stable, technology-leading company with a long-term outlook #LI-HK1