I have two roles: I’m the Programme Manager in Germany, which is where I’ve been based since joining the company in 2018, and also the Competence Area Lead for Ground Segment Solutions.
What’s your role?
I’m Starion Group’s Programme Manager in Germany and Competence Area Lead for Ground Segment Solutions. I’ve worked for the company since March 2018 and am based in Starion’s Darmstadt office.
We moved to this new office last year and it is very modern and nice! Working here means we are based really close to two of our main customers: the European Space Agency (ESA) at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) and EUMETSAT (the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites).
What’s a typical day in your working life like?
A typical day in my role usually involves a lot of meetings and discussions. Since I coordinate multiple projects across the team, I regularly discuss current topics with project managers and technical leads, and take part in discussions with partners and customers.
My day normally begins by reviewing my agenda and checking recent emails to identify any urgent or unexpected issues that need attention. On the rare days without scheduled meetings, I focus on management-related tasks such as documentation, budget reviews, preparing proposals or creating presentations.
As a Competence Area Lead, I also try to stay up to date with developments and activities across the Group that are related to the space ground segment – that’s the ground-based elements used to operate satellites and receive data from them.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the collaborative aspects of my work and the opportunity to contribute to new developments in the space domain. All these activities need a great deal of collaboration, both within the Ground Segment group as well as with other teams across Starion.
What has your biggest achievement in your career so far?
I’ve been fortunate to contribute to several successful projects and team achievements, but a key highlight for me has been the development of Astral, Starion’s integrated ground segment solution. Astral has been built through multiple activities, bringing together different tools and developments from across the company. It’s really helped us to strengthen what we offer and better support our customers operating satellites.
Do you have any tips for people trying to get jobs in your area of expertise?
I think beyond the technical and managerial skills, a key requirement is a certain level of curiosity to explore new ideas and technologies. It’s also essential to have the ability to think beyond the immediate scope, to anticipate future challenges and opportunities.
How do you wind down after a working day?
These days, I mostly spend time with my kids after work. When I get a moment to myself, I enjoy relaxing with some science fiction or gaming.