[Nyx Earth] Valve Development Engineer

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run. As a talented System Functional Engineer, you will be responsible for maturing the propulsion fluid system's functional design and performance models from preliminary to detailed design, and for driving the architecture trades, verification, and requirements work that keep the system compliant, safe, and traceable. ROLE OVERVIEW FLUID SYSTEM DESIGN & FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS * Mature the overall fluid system from detailed design to qualification by leading the functional analysis of the assembly * Lead your own analysis tasks using advanced simulation tools, and provide outputs to other fluid analysts and functional engineers in selecting appropriate methodologies, assumptions, and data processing methods. * Ensure functional analysis outputs feed directly into design maturity, keeping the fluid system design compliant and traceable as it advances toward detailed design. System Architecture & Trade Studies * Contribute to the evaluation and optimization of propulsion system concepts in terms of performance, mass, operations, cost, and reliability/safety. * Support development and qualification ground platform designs * Contribute to ground platforms and flight simulations, sensitivity analyses, and risk assessments. Performance Modeling & Verification & Validation * Develop and maintain functional performance models of propulsive systems using simulation frameworks such as EcosimPro and Python-based codes. * Validate and anchor models against available test data. * Plan and execute the V&V plan for the fluid subsystem, including analysis and test campaigns to verify subsystem performance and requirements compliance. Failure Analysis, Sequencing & Requirements Management * Contribute to FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) to ensure the system architecture is consistent with reliability and safety targets. * Support the Concept of Operations of the Functional Propulsion System in accordance with engine needs and constraints. * Contribute to functional requirements for subsystems such as valves, and tanks based on propulsion system analyses. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES LOCATION You will perform your duties principally at the Company's premises in Bordeaux and may be required to travel from time to time to our company’s premises in Munich in the course of your duties. WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FROM YOU * Master’s and/or PhD degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field * Proven experience with 0D - 1D fluid simulation tools (model development and analyses) - (e.g., EcosimPro, Amesim) * Deep understanding of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and compressible flow * Experience with storable propulsion system is a plus * Fluency in English; proficiency in Italian, German or French are an asset Skills and Behaviors: * A hands-on approach to problem-solving, combined with a collaborative mindset to work across multidisciplinary teams * Excellent organizational skills and ability to multitask * Capability of working autonomously whilst collaborating productively with remote teams * Positive and flexible attitude in a constantly evolving environment * Grit to get the job done * Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences * Behaviors consistent with The Exploration Company’s core values of Commitment, Innovation, Trust, Quality, and Teamwork Why you should join us! What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:   * We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind  * We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them   * We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?   We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly.    The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.   All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible. If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run. As a Thruster Technical Owner, you will own the technical follow-up of the supplier providing assigned Nyx Earth thruster assemblies, including the technical baseline, supplier development path, qualification evidence, delivery readiness, integration support, and flight-operations feedback loop. You will work closely with propulsion system engineering, GNC, avionics, vehicle design, program management, procurement, quality, PA, supplier quality, AIT/MAIT, test, safety, operations, and the thruster supplier or manufacturing partner. The reporting line is to be confirmed by Propulsion leadership. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * Own the assigned thruster technical baseline, including requirements, interfaces, verification methods, performance needs, qualification logic, review data, and acceptance criteria. * Maintain a system-level view of thruster fluidic, mechanical, thermal, electrical, command, GNC, FDIR, safety, operations, and vehicle-design interfaces. * Follow the supplier development path, hot-fire evidence path, qualification logic, acceptance test logic, review sequence, and flight-hardware decision path for the assigned thruster scope. * Build a direct, fact-based technical relationship with the supplier or manufacturing partner while keeping TEC's independent technical judgment clear. * Review supplier deliverables, analyses, drawings where available, procedures, inspection evidence, test results, review packages, and non-conformance inputs. * Make technical maturity, evidence quality, manufacturing readiness, test readiness, schedule risk, delivery risk, and recovery options visible early. * Support AIT/MAIT preparation, integration, test, operations preparation, flight-data review, and treatment of abnormal thruster behaviour. WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FROM YOU * Strong aerospace, mechanical, propulsion, or related engineering background. * Experience with spacecraft liquid propulsion hardware, ideally bipropellant thrusters, thrust chambers, thruster valves, hot-fire testing, qualification, manufacturing, or acceptance testing. * Proven ability to own technical supplier follow-up for a critical component or unit across requirements, interfaces, qualification, delivery, integration, and anomaly support. * Strong system-engineering judgment across propulsion, GNC, avionics, vehicle design, AIT/MAIT, quality, PA, safety, and operations interfaces. * Ability to communicate clearly with suppliers, engineers, program leadership, procurement, quality, test, and operations stakeholders. * Fluency in English; French and/or German are useful assets. SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS * You know where the thruster stands, what evidence is missing, what is at risk, and what decision is needed. * You judge thruster decisions by spacecraft, mission, safety, integration, cost, and schedule impact. * You stay close to test evidence, hot-fire learning, manufacturing reality, supplier behaviour, and integration constraints. * You escalate early with facts and credible recovery options. * You help nearby engineers and interfaces become stronger through clear technical reasoning. WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US * We are agile: we make decisions fast while keeping our goals and systems in mind. * We are open and collaborative: we are transparent about risks and obstacles so we can solve them together. * We have a lot of fun: we refuel our energy knowing we are democratizing space. We would love to hear from you if you want to be part of our journey. The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. Why you should join us! What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:   * We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind  * We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them   * We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?   We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly.    The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.   All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible. If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.