Head of Government Affairs - ICEYE Germany

• Head of Government Affairs - ICEYE Germany
• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Department: CEO Office
• Reports to: CEO, ICEYE Germany
• Employment type: Permanent
• Workplace model: Hybrid
• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required)

Why this role matters:

The Head of Government Affairs is the senior political engagement lead for ICEYE Germany, responsible for securing, sustaining and shaping federal political support for ICEYE’s priority programmes.

This role owns and executes a structured government affairs strategy across BMVg, BAAINBw, relevant Bundestag stakeholders and key federal institutions. The position ensures continuous political alignment, early identification of policy and procurement risks, and proactive positioning of ICEYE Germany within Germany’s defence, industrial and space policy landscape.

Reporting directly to the Local CEO, this role safeguards the political foundation necessary for programme continuity, procurement success and long-term strategic growth.

Who We Are

ICEYE delivers space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to governments and allied nations. This includes sovereign and turnkey ISR missions leveraging ICEYE’s world-leading synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, as well as access to data from the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation. These capabilities enable partners to detect and respond to critical changes anywhere on Earth with unprecedented speed and accuracy – day or night and in any weather, supported by ultra high-resolution imagery and high-frequency revisits.

As a trusted partner for defense, intelligence, security, and maritime domain awareness, ICEYE’s near real-time data creates a tactical advantage for mission-critical operations. Designed for dual use, the platform also serves civil protection and commercial users for natural-catastrophe intelligence, insurance, maritime monitoring (including oil-spill detection), and finance, contributing to global security and community resilience.

ICEYE is headquartered in Finland and operates globally across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. We have more than 900 employees, united by a shared vision: improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation.

About ICEYE Germany

The German entity plays a central role in national security programmes, supporting the development of sovereign reconnaissance capabilities in partnership with RISS and Rheinmetall, and contributing to Europe’s sovereign intelligence.

Your day-to-day responsibilities

• Own and institutionalise senior-level access across BMVg, BAAINBw and relevant Bundestag committees, ensuring sustained political backing for Spock 1, Spock 2 and future programmes.
• Develop and implement a structured government affairs strategy aligned with corporate and programme objectives.
• Shape policy narratives around sovereign ISR and space-based reconnaissance capabilities in partnership with RISS, Rheinmetall and internal leadership.
• Establish permanent political and policy monitoring across defence procurement, industrial policy, export control and space strategy; identify emerging risks and provide early warning and mitigation recommendations.
• Act as primary point of contact for government inquiries, parliamentary interactions and ministerial engagement related to defence, procurement and industrial policy; prepare decision-grade briefings for executive engagements.
• Coordinate with Sales, Programme Leads, Legal and Compliance to align political strategy with commercial objectives while ensuring export control, security and regulatory compliance integrity.

Requirements

What we’re looking for

Must haves:

• Established senior-level network within BMVg, BAAINBw and relevant Berlin government stakeholders.
• Proven experience in defence policy, government affairs or national security programmes.
• Demonstrated track record of protecting and advancing political backing for major defence or security programmes.
• Strong analytical capability in political and procurement environments.
• Excellent influencing, stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Fluent German and English (spoken and written).

Nice to haves: 

• Former defence lobbyist, senior government advisor or Bundeswehr officer with procurement exposure.
• Eligibility for security clearance or existing clearance.
• Degree in public policy, international relations, defence studies or related field; advanced degree desirable.

Application Process

1. Initial screening call with Talent Attraction 
2. Hiring Manager interview with CEO Germany 
3. Case study interview 
4. Final interview with CEO ICEYE 
5. References 

Working at ICEYE

At ICEYE, you’ll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority—with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win.

How We Work (Our Values)

Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way.

• Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the “why” behind decisions.
• See the big picture: Stay close to what’s happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others.
• Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions.
• Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift.
• Have fun:  What we do matters—and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins.

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing—at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table.

We’re committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us—we’ll do our best to help.