Tech Innovation Manager (m/f/d)

At OroraTech, we're on a mission to become a "Municorn" (Munich's next unicorn) by 2027, disrupting the market with thermal intelligence from space. As our Tech Innovation Lead, you won’t just manage ideas—you’ll shape the future of Earth observation. You'll lead crossfunctional teams through rapid prototyping cycles, validate deep technical concepts, and ensure we stay 3 steps ahead in the fast-evolving Earth observation market.

You’ll own the full innovation lifecycle—from the initial spark to a validated product candidate—driving bold ideas through prototyping, technical de-risking, and early market alignment. Operating at the intersection of engineering, business, and science, you’ll make strategic decisions that shape what we build next.

This is a high-visibility leadership role suited to those who thrive in ambiguity, and connect vision with execution and commercial impact. The role requires both technical depth and executive fluency—the kind of leader who can prototype in the lab on Monday, pitch to C-Level on Tuesday, and launch a new pilot by Friday. 

Above all, it calls for a team builder who understands that great innovation comes from great teams—someone who can create an environment where high performers thrive, collaboration is natural, and pushing boundaries becomes the norm.

Strategic Innovation Leadership

• Own the end-to-end ideation process, managing 4-16 innovation initiatives annually with <3 month cycles, coordinating internal teams and external contributors

• Drive rapid technical prototyping to validate concepts at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1-3 and Business Readiness Levels (BRL) 1-3

• Orchestrate seamless transitions from ideation to validation phase, ensuring knowledge transfer and momentum preservation

• Support innovation budget allocation with clear ROI metrics and success tracking

• Scout emerging technologies and market trends to continuously refresh the innovation pipeline

• Forge strategic partnerships with research institutions, startups, and industry leaders to accelerate innovation velocity

 Technical Prototype Development

• Refine and optimize our 3-phase innovation framework (Ideation → Validation → Product Development), Establish and enforce clear gate criteria for stage progression

• Lead agile iteration cycles for technical prototypes, balancing speed with rigorous technical feasibility assessments

• Partner with research engineers or external consultants to transform concepts into tangible proof-of-concepts

• Develop and maintain innovation dashboards tracking success rates, cycle times, and market impact, Curate a holistic innovation backlog

• Track and report on innovation metrics, success rates, and time-to-market

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of research engineers and technical specialists

• Cultivate a "fail fast, learn faster" culture that maximizes learning while minimizing resource waste 

• Bridge technical and business worlds by facilitating seamless collaboration between Tech Innovation and Business Development teams

• Keep the team energized and focused, especially when navigating ambiguity—because sustained innovation requires not just technical brilliance, but resilient, motivated people.

• 8+ years of experience in product innovation, R&D, or deep-tech prototyping, ideally in top-tier tech environments. 

• 3+ years leading high-performing, cross-functional technical teams through ambiguity and rapid delivery cycles

• Proven track record of taking technical concepts from TRL/BRL 1–3 to production-ready pilots

• Strong technical foundation (Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or related field), paired with sharp business and product instincts

• Ability to interface with C-level executives, Directors and external stakeholders, distilling complexity into strategic clarity

• Experience managing innovation portfolios, with clear ROI, cycle time, and technical risk tracking

Preferred Skills:

• 10+ years in innovation-centric roles, with tenure at a leading tech company 

• Experience working at the intersection of data science, aerospace, and applied ML

• Background in launching first-of-their-kind products, moonshots, or hardware-software systems

• Familiarity with Earth observation data, remote sensing calibration challenges, or climate tech markets

• Contributor to open innovation ecosystems, patent portfolios, or peer-reviewed research

• Virtual shares for all permanent employees (VSOP=Virtual Share Option Program)
• Company pension scheme (bAV = Betriebliche Altersversorgung) 
• Company accident insurance for all employees (insurance for accidents during work and leisure time around the world 24/7)
• Flexible working hours and home office option (including working from other countries)
• Corporate health benefit via Wellpass Subscription
• Free Deutschland ticket
• Discount on lunch meals
• Company bike via JobRad
• Modern office in Neue Balan with a wonderful pool and campus area

• Be part of the solution to climate change.
• Flexible home office policy (3 days/week, more negotiable)
• Attractive office and modern labs in Munich (obviously including free snacks/drinks/coffee).
• Flexible working time. Take care of your family? Late sleeper? Early riser? We can make all of that happen.
• A responsible position with individual autonomy and design freedom.