Bernhard Bals — Consultant for Space Companies
“Technical challenges can
usually be solved.
The most demanding problems emerge where engineering, compliance and organisation meet.”
About EQMC Consulting
Hello, I am Bernhard Bals.
Aerospace Engineer, Business Economist and Intercultural Mediator.
With more than 20 years of experience in Engineering, Product Assurance, Project Management and Quality Management, I support space companies in developing reliable technical systems, meeting regulatory requirements pragmatically and building organisations that can keep pace with their growth.
Three areas define my work:
New-Space Product Assurance
operational PA under ECSS and Prime contractor requirements.
Tailored Standard Compliance
ECSS, ISO 9001 and EN 9100 frameworks that work in real project environments.
Scalable Development Organisations
structural work at the interfaces
between Engineering, Product Assurance, Project Management and Quality Management.
EQMC stands for Engineering, Quality, Management and Culture.
From many years of experience, I have learned that the most demanding challenges rarely arise within individual disciplines. They emerge where technical, regulatory and organisational requirements come together.
Engineering creates technical substance. Quality creates traceability and trust. Management provides direction and enables decisions. Culture makes collaboration sustainable.
My goal is to connect these four dimensions in a way that enables space companies to grow, deliver and meet regulatory requirements — without creating unnecessary complexity.
If you would like to explore what the next meaningful step for your organisation could be, I would be pleased to speak with you.
Trust-Building and Enabling
Drawing on many years of experience in development projects and a strong ability to quickly grasp complex situations, I bring together different technical and organisational perspectives. This helps create solutions that not only work within individual functions but remain effective across organisational interfaces.
Paving the way with confidence
As an intercultural mediator and experienced leader, I create an environment in which different perspectives become visible and shared solutions can emerge. Through empathy, clarity and trust, I help individuals and teams navigate even challenging situations constructively.
Responsibly Effective
As a former officer in the German Armed Forces, I remain calm under pressure and take responsibility when situations become demanding. My focus is not only on analysis and concepts, but on effective implementation — turning decisions into tangible results.
My professional career
More Than 20 Years of Industry and Practical Experience
Over more than 20 years in the space sector, I have experienced Systems Engineering, Product Assurance, Project Management, Quality Management and organisational development from different perspectives.
These experiences continue to shape the way I look at projects and organisations today. They help me see technical, regulatory and organisational challenges not as isolated topics, but as interconnected elements that span functions and disciplines.
Bringing these different perspectives together is a fundamental part of my work.
Consultant
Bernhard Bals Engineering – Quality – Management – Culture
As an independent consultant, I support space companies in establishing Product Assurance, compliance structures and engineering organisations in a pragmatic and effective way — with ECSS tailoring depth gained from real ESA project experience.
Project Manager and Consultant
IABG mbH
As Project Manager, I was responsible for a consulting project supporting a Kazakh space company in the procurement of an integration and test centre for satellites. In this role, I led a team of specialists in an international environment involving stakeholders from Kazakhstan, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium and Germany.
Project Engineer
IABG mbH
As a Project Engineer, I supported a Turkish company in the development of a thermal vacuum chamber for satellite testing. Working as a Systems Engineer, I also advised the Project Manager. In addition, I supported a Kazakh space company in establishing its project organisation and training its team as part of the procurement of a satellite integration and test centre.
Business Economics (Dipl.-Kfm.)
FernUniversität Hagen
I studied economics part-time at the FernUniversität in Hagen. I majored in Operations Research and Business Informatics. My diploma thesis involved developing a software application to simulate commercial aircraft boarding processes and analyse different boarding strategies.
Studied aerospace engineering (Dipl.-Ing.)
University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich
I studied aerospace engineering at the Bundeswehr University. I had chosen aerospace engineering as my specialization. For my diploma thesis , I further developed and parallelized a CFD simulation method at the CANES Institute of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Officer
German Armed Forces
During my twelve years of military service, I completed officer training in the armoured corps and, following my studies, served as a team leader in satellite-based reconnaissance. In this role, I contributed to the commissioning of the user segment of a satellite system and to the definition of requirements for a future Earth observation satellite system.
Qualifications & Certificates
Continuous Learning as a Foundation
Diploma (Dipl.-Ing.) Aerospace Engineering
My foundation for the technical connections in aerospace.
Introduction to Systems Engineering
University of New South Wales
For the structured development of technical systems.
Intercultural mediator
Diploma (Dipl.-Kfm.) Economics
My foundation for the economic and organizational contexts
Business Coach
Supporting leaders and teams in change processes.
Project management specialist
Quality manager (QM-TÜV)
Aerospace QM Systems Internal Auditor EN 9100
QM System Auditor ISO 19011 (TÜV)
Qualification demonstrating the competence required to perform ISO 9001 audits in accordance with ISO 19011.
Bernhard Bals – Personal
Curious, Reliable, Grounded in Nature
Curiosity has been a constant throughout my life. I enjoy learning new things, exploring different perspectives and engaging with topics far beyond my professional field.
A few experiences have shaped me in particular.
For many years, I worked as a football referee. It taught me the importance of tact, clarity and consistency when different interests and viewpoints come together.
As the German representative in a working group of the ISO committee for space standards, I contribute to international cooperation in the space sector and collaborate with people from different countries and cultures.
I feel a strong connection to my home city of Augsburg. As a reservist in the German Armed Forces, I remain prepared to support the city’s civil emergency staff and help coordinate cooperation with the military if ever required.
I find balance to my professional work in nature. Canada’s national parks are among my favourite places, but the Augsburg city forest also provides an opportunity to recharge throughout the seasons.
What you can expect
Clarity, Effectiveness, Reliability.
Structures That Last
I translate technical, regulatory and organisational complexity into structures that your team can sustain — ensuring that growth does not turn into friction.
Effectiveness Across Interfaces
The greatest sources of friction rarely arise within individual functions. I help organisations create sustainable decision-making, accountability and collaboration across organisational interfaces.
Engineering Credibility
Institutions and prime contractors look for structure, depth and reliability. My work helps your organisation demonstrate all three — without promising more than it can realistically sustain.
Selected customer projects
Gain an insight into my previous projects.
Click on the button to find out more about my previous customer projects, the initial situations, collaboration and results.