Blackwave designs, manufactures and ships flight-qualified, commercial off-the-shelf composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for launch vehicles and satellites. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Munich, Germany, the company delivers COPVs from a standardized portfolio with flight heritage. The approach reduces lead time from months to days while ensuring that each tank is qualified and flight-ready. Blackwave's mission is to end COPV failure in spaceflight. The company employs more than 150 people across manufacturing facilities in Germany and Texas.

THE WHAT
You lead the Inspection & Test team in daily operations and ensure that product verification is executed reliably, efficiently, and transparently. You build and scale the acceptance testing and NDT capability, establish robust testing processes, and ensure safe release decisions without becoming a bottleneck to production.

THE WHY
To end COPV failure in spaceflight.
Quality is not defined in reviews. It is built in inspection. If inspection and testing fail, everything fails afterwards.
This role exists to ensure that product verification remains reliable as Blackwave scales. You build the team, processes, and testing capability required to ensure safe, transparent release decisions at increasing production volumes.

YOUR IMPACT

You don't just manage inspection. You build the capability that ensures every released product can be trusted.

You ensure:

• all inspections and acceptance tests are executed reliably
• quality remains measurable, traceable, and transparent
• testing operations support production without becoming a bottleneck
• release decisions are based on clear acceptance criteria
• the team performs successfully under real production conditions

Your tasks in detail and by priority:

• Establish and develop a capable Acceptance Testing & NDT team with clear responsibilities, strong technical competence, and a culture of accountability.
• Togetherness: One team. One standard. One mission.
• Own inspection and testing operations, ensuring 100% inspection coverage, no unverified parts, immediate escalation of deviations, and structured documentation.
• High Performance: Quality is delivered through execution.
• Define, implement, and continuously improve acceptance test plans, testing procedures, parameters, standards, and documentation together with the team.
  Accountability: Create systems people can rely on.
• Ensure testing activities are fully integrated into manufacturing operations and support production targets without creating bottlenecks.
  Candor: Surface issues early and keep decisions transparent.
• Identify process weaknesses, implement improvements, and work closely with Manufacturing and Engineering to continuously increase testing efficiency and effectiveness.
  ​​​​​​​Playfulness: Improve the system through execution.

Must-Haves

• Technical background in Quality, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Testing, NDT, or a comparable field.
• Hands-on experience with industrial testing, inspection, or quality verification in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of NDT methods (e.g. ultrasonic testing, X-ray, dye penetrant, visual inspection) and/or acceptance testing methods such as pressure, leakage, functional, or dimensional testing.
• Experience reading, interpreting, and signing off technical testing documentation, reports, procedures, and acceptance records.
• Proven leadership, coordination, or team guidance experience in an operational environment.
• Practical, structured, shopfloor-oriented mindset with strong ownership and problem-solving abilities.

Nice to have

• Level II qualification in NDT methods or experience managing NDT qualification programs.
• Experience with composite materials, pressure vessels, aerospace, hydrogen, or other safety-critical industries.

• Choose your own benefit: Germany ticket, Egym Wellpass, or a tax-free Give Card
• Healthy & social lunch culture: Fresh meals during shared lunch breaks
• High level of autonomy & real impact: You own a critical seam in the business — between what we sell and what we build
• Startup mindset meets aerospace innovation: Flat hierarchies, fast decisions, and space for your ideas
• Stunning views: Rooftop terrace with views of the Alps in Taufkirchen, or indoor garden in Garching-Hochbrück
• Growth opportunities: Work on technically demanding projects with real stakes
• We live our team culture: From tech talks to team events and after-work gatherings — we celebrate success together