The Exploration Company
Test Bench Engineer
Bordeaux, France. Posted 5 months ago
The role
You will lead the end-to-end development of a propulsion test facility for legacy propellants. You will manage a multidisciplinary team to design, procure, assemble, install, and commission the test bench.
What you will do
- Develop a vacuum hot fire test facility to develop and qualify orbital thrusters
- Capture and define system-level requirements for a chemical propulsion test bench
- Define performance envelopes, safety objectives, operability constraints, and verification methods
- Translate propulsion test needs into facility, utilities, and ground support equipment requirements
- Define instrumentation, data acquisition, and control systems
- Manage suppliers and internal manufacturing activities
- Plan and execute commissioning, acceptance testing, and entry-into-service activities
- Lead hazard analyses and implement mitigation measures
- Develop procedures for handling, testing, maintenance, and emergency response
- Lead operations of test facility and perform hot fire, cold flows, decontamination and maintenance activities
Required qualifications
- Degree in aerospace, propulsion system, mechanical, chemical engineering, or a related discipline
- 5+ years of hands-on experience with propulsion test benches
- Strong background in fluid systems, pressurized systems, and ground support equipment
- Demonstrated experience delivering complex engineering facilities from concept to commissioning
- Knowledge of safety-critical systems, industrial automation, and test operations
- Experience with site qualification, permitting, or regulated industrial environments
- Excellent communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders
Nice to have
- preferably with storable/legacy propellants
- Experience in vacuum test facility design and operation
- Experience with team management would be a plus
Benefits
- Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable
Before you apply
- All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check
- Visa sponsorship where applicable
About the company
The Exploration Company is building spacecraft for humanity and developing advanced propulsion capabilities to support reusable spacecraft programs.