Senior Bid Manager (m/f/d) – Space & Defence [26177]
Sopra Steria · Darmstadt
Company Description
- CS GROUP, together with HE Space and Sopra Steria, has been successfully providing digital end-to-end systems and engineering services for more than 40 years.
- With over 2000 employees worldwide, we combine advanced and unique skills in both information technology and space data engineering. We combine entrepreneurial agility with cutting-edge technological expertise.
- CS GROUP is a leading provider of operational systems and an important and trusted long-term partner for space and defence organisations.
- At CS GROUP, we are driven by innovation and we value our most important asset: our people.
Job Description
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
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Aerospace, Defence Studies, Project Management, or a related discipline;
- Several years of hands-on 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 below would be a strong advantage:
- 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 in German and English, 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
- 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
- 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) by clicking on the button “Apply for this job” and quoting job DE-HP-26177.
- An exciting and dynamic international working environment awaits you!
- An inclusive and committed employer, our company works every day to combat all forms of discrimination and promote a respectful working environment. That's why, committed to gender diversity and overall inclusivity, we encourage all applications and profiles.
Last apply date: 10/11/2026!