Principal CFD Engineer - Multiphase

ABOUT US PhysicsX is a deep-tech company with roots in numerical physics and Formula One, dedicated to accelerating hardware innovation at the speed of software. We are building an AI-driven simulation software stack for engineering and manufacturing across advanced industries. By enabling high-fidelity, multi-physics simulation through AI inference across the entire engineering lifecycle, PhysicsX unlocks new levels of optimization and automation in design, manufacturing, and operations — empowering engineers to push the boundaries of possibility. Our customers include leading innovators in Aerospace & Defense, Materials, Energy, Semiconductors, and Automotive. WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR As a Principal Data Scientist (Algorithm Engineer) in Delivery, you are an experienced problem solver and technical leader who is passionate about building practical solutions that enable customers to make better engineering decisions. You are someone who can grasp advanced engineering concepts across multiple industries, lead technical initiatives, and excel at working directly with customers (and often side-by-side with them on-site) to embeds cutting edge AI models into tools that are useful and used. You've consistently tackled difficult problems that require strong foundations in data driven modelling and deep learning techniques, with extensive hands-on experience in probabilistic methods and predictive modelling. Your expertise in python, along with advanced proficiency in libraries like NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, TensorFlow and PyTorch, is essential, with proven ability to architect and deploy scalable, production-ready models and data pipelines. With industry experience (post Masters of PhD) in a commercial, you're ready to not only execute but also lead and mentor others. You're truly excited about growing both your technical expertise and leadership skills, naturally taking ownership of complex data science work streams and guiding teams to success. You continuously improve the systems and solutions you work on to ensure they are practical, impactful and meet the evolving needs of our customers. THIS ROLE In this role, you'll work closely with our Simulation Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers, and customers to understand and define the engineering and physics challenges we are solving, while providing technical leadership to your team. You'll build the foundations for successful, impactful solutions by: * Leading pre-processing and analysis of complex data to prepare it for use in predictive modelling, establishing best practices and methodologies for your team. * Architecting and developing innovative deep learning models in combination with state-of-the-art optimisation methods to predict and control the behaviour of physical systems. * Taking full responsibility for the quality, accuracy and impact of your work and the work of your team. * Designing, building, and testing data pipelines that are reliable, scalable, and robustlyeasily deployable in production environments. * Leading cross-functional collaboration with simulation engineers to ensure seamless integration of data science models with simulations. * Driving internal R&D and product development, helping to refine models and identify new areas of application. * Mentoring junior team members and providing technical guidance to help them grow. * Leading open communication and presentations with both technical teams and customers, helping onboard users and co-develop with customers. * Representing PhysicsX as a technical authority when traveling to customer sites in North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, an average of 2-3 weeks per quarter, where you'll collaborate closely with customers to build solutions on site. As a senior member of the team, you'll have significant influence on our technical direction and the opportunity to shape future solutions and products, while developing your skills as a technical leader. OUR DELIVERY TEAMS DRIVE INNOVATION TO TURN AI MODELS INTO PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS - READ OUR BLOG TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO THIS EXCITING JOURNEY!   We value diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We strongly encourage individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in tech to apply. To help make a change, we sponsor bright women from disadvantaged backgrounds through their university degrees in science and mathematics.    We collect diversity and inclusion data solely for the purpose of monitoring the effectiveness of our equal opportunities policies and ensuring compliance with UK employment and equality legislation. This information is confidential, used only in aggregate form, and will not influence the outcome of your application.

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 Propulsion CFD Engineer, you will be responsible for the computational fluid dynamics analysis of propulsion system components and thruster plumes, providing the flow physics insight that underpins component design, thruster performance, and vehicle-level integration decisions. ROLE OVERVIEW CFD Analysis & Component Simulation * Perform CFD simulations of propulsion components — valves, regulators, orifices, injectors, feed lines — to characterize internal flow, pressure drop, and flow-induced loads. * Support design trade studies by predicting component-level performance across the operating envelope, in both steady-state and transient conditions. * Identify and help resolve flow anomalies such as cavitation, choking, or flow separation that affect component performance. Plume Characterization & Thruster Performance * Model thruster plume characterization, from near-field continuum expansion through far-field rarefied flow, including relevant gas dynamics effects. * Assess plume-induced thermal, contamination, and force/torque effects on adjacent subsystems and vehicle surfaces. * Support thruster and nozzle design by predicting performance parameters such as thrust coefficient and specific impulse from CFD. Cross-Functional Design Collaboration * Work closely with propulsion design engineers and structural and thermal analysts to translate CFD results into actionable design inputs and margins. * Communicate CFD findings and their implications clearly to multidisciplinary teams and program stakeholders. * Support system-level trades on component sizing, thruster placement, and plume shielding for vehicle interfaces. Model Validation, Tools & Documentation * Validate and correlate CFD models against test data — cold-flow testing, hot-fire testing, plume diagnostics — to build and maintain model confidence. * Maintain and improve CFD simulation workflows, meshing practices, and tools to improve turnaround time and consistency across the design office. * Produce clear technical reports and analysis documentation supporting design reviews and certification. 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 * M.S. or Ph.D. in aerospace or a related field, with 3+ years of hands-on CFD experience relevant to propulsion or fluid dynamics. * Proficiency with CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, or equivalent. * Experience modeling compressible, multiphase, and/or rarefied gas flows relevant to propulsion valves and thruster plumes. * Familiarity with plume characterization methods such as DSMC or continuum-rarefied coupling is a strong plus. * Strong grounding in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and gas dynamics fundamentals. * Experience correlating CFD predictions against test data. * Familiarity with scripting or automation (Python, MATLAB) for meshing, post-processing, or workflow automation. * Fluent in English. German and 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.