The Exploration Company
Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer
Bordeaux, France. Posted a month ago
The role
You will lead Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) activities for two cryogenic propulsion systems. This role involves technical leadership, people leadership, and hands-on involvement in preparing and executing complex cryogenic propulsion test campaigns.
What you will do
- Provide overall technical leadership for the AIT activities of cryogenic propulsion systems
- Define and maintain the AIT approach, philosophy, plans and technical execution strategy
- Ensure AIT activities align with system requirements, design intent, verification objectives and programme milestones
- Review and approve AIT procedures, test specifications, test plans, test reports, non-conformance dispositions and engineering change documentation
- Lead technical assessment and resolution of complex AIT problems
- Oversee preparation, integration, functional testing and acceptance activities for the propulsion systems
- Coordinate investigation of anomalies and manage root-cause analysis, corrective actions and retest activities
- Ensure AIT activities follow safety rules, operational constraints and approved procedures
- Lead and support the propulsion AIT Team Leaders
- Balance resources and priorities across all propulsion systems
Required qualifications
- Degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, propulsion engineering or a related technical discipline
- 5+ years of professional experience in spacecraft, launch vehicle, aircraft, industrial gas, energy or another relevant high-technology environment
- Experience in Assembly, Integration and Test, involving propulsion systems or other complex fluid and pressure systems
- Experience leading engineering teams and coordinating multidisciplinary technical activities
- Experience with cryogenic systems, liquid propulsion, pressurised systems, fluid systems or related test operations
- Experience planning and executing complex test campaigns from test preparation through final reporting
- Ability to lead technical investigations and resolve test anomalies using structured problem-solving methods
- Understanding of configuration management, verification and validation, requirements compliance and technical documentation
- Experience working with test facilities, ground support equipment, instrumentation and data acquisition systems
- Capacity to travel to test sites and partner facilities as required
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Fluent professional English
Nice to have
- French will be an advantage
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 Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle.