Lead Systems Architect - Mission Data Platform (m/f/d)

About Us

We are pioneering the future of satellite intelligence and defense. Backed by Rheinmetall’s proven defense expertise and ICEYE’s radar satellite innovation, our joint venture has the ambition of delivering one of the world's largest earth observation satellite constellations to defend Germany.

Our mission? Empower Europe’s security and defense with sovereign, persistent, and accurate space-based intelligence under any condition.

Join us to shape one of Europe’s most significant high-tech projects and make a real impact on defense and security for tomorrow.

The Mission of the Lead Systems and Data Architect

We are looking for a Lead Systems Architect who has designed complex distributed systems at scale.

This is a core product engineering role with architectural authority across internal teams and subcontractors. You will define and govern the end-to-end system architecture — from ingestion and processing to APIs and user-facing applications — ensuring scalability, security, performance, and long-term maintainability in a mission-critical environment.

Within 3 months, you will review and take over management of the existing data & application architecture (including security model, integration standards, and UI principles), ensuring this is formally adopted by all subcontractors and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Within 3 months, you will review and take over management of the existing data & application architecture (including security model, integration standards, and UI principles), ensuring this is formally adopted by all subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
• Define system boundaries, interaction models, and integration standards across internal components and external partners.
• Make and defend architectural decisions impacting scalability, performance, resilience, and long-term maintainability.
• Set clear technical direction for service communication patterns, data flows, and interface design.
• Ensure security-by-design at architectural level, aligned with high-assurance operational environments.
• Provide technical governance across internal teams and subcontractors — including design reviews, architectural approvals, and enforcement of standards.
• Ensure alignment between system architecture and operational user workflows, delivering reliable, actionable mission insight.
  
  

• 8+ years of experience designing and owning end-to-end data and application architectures across distributed systems (services, APIs, data flows, infrastructure), with a deep understanding of runtime behavior, scalability, latency, and failure modes in production environments.

• Proven expertise in system integration and API design, defining clean, robust interaction models across heterogeneous and externally developed components.

• Experience evolving and hardening existing systems — bringing architectural clarity, structure, and scalability to complex or partially defined environments.

• Experience designing systems in high-security, compliance-heavy contexts (e.g., defense, aerospace, critical infrastructure), where security and reliability are core architectural constraints.

• Ability to review, challenge, and enforce architectural standards across engineering teams and external partners — grounded in real technical depth and practical system-building experience.

Your strengths and experience count at Rheinmetall, even if you may not meet all of the listed requirements. We look forward to receiving applications from candidates (m/f/d) who are keen to make a difference and take on responsibility. We value individuality and equal opportunities. Severely disabled applicants (m/f/d) will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified.

• The opportunity to help shape a national sovereign space capability.
• A role that directly impacts Europe's security and defense architecture.
• Competitive compensation with strong development and learning opportunities.
• A supportive, diverse, and mission-oriented environment.
• Relocation assistance and access to training, conferences, and certification programs.
• Modern offices with areas for collaboration and focused work.

Apply now and start your journey with RISS!

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At RISS, we believe that diversity fosters innovation and strengthens us as an organization. We create a work environment where different perspectives and talents are not only welcome but valued.

Contact Person: Lauren Pabst