Principal Mission Assurance Engineer

The Exploration Company

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. We are looking for a Mission Operations Training Engineer to build, own, and execute our end-to-end mission operations training program. In this role, you will be the technical authority for operations training across the program, embedding with our software, engineering, flight operations, and recovery teams to ensure both our personnel and the astronaut crews are fully prepared. As a Simulation Supervisor, you will work directly with the Ground Software and Flight Software teams to ensure fault-injection logic and training capabilities are built into the simulator architecture. Key Responsibilities * Own the training concept of operations, certification pipelines, and long-term training plans for flight controllers and ISS crews * Author and maintain the core curriculum, lesson plans, and instructional materials that translate vehicle engineering into operational proficiency * Script, orchestrate, and execute high-fidelity nominal and off-nominal simulation campaigns as Simulation Supervisor * Partner with Ground Software and Flight Software teams to ensure fault-injection capabilities and training requirements are built into the simulator architecture * Coordinate with subsystem engineers, Mission Directors, and external partners (ESA, NASA, CNES) to keep training aligned with current procedures * Incorporate flight anomalies, test failures, and operational lessons learned into simulator capabilities, training flows, and vehicle design * Mentor and grow junior training engineers and simulation controllers What we would love to see from you: The ideal candidate will have: * Master’s degree in an engineering or science discipline. * 8+ years of experience in spacecraft mission operations training or a comparable high-risk operations environment * Hands-on experience scripting and running simulation campaigns as a Simulation Supervisor, console operator, or equivalent role * Experience working directly with software development teams to define, review, and accept simulator capabilities or modeling environments * Technical knowledge of common spacecraft systems (GNC, avionics, propulsion, life support) * Demonstrated ability to translate complex systems engineering into operational training curricula and procedures Bonus qualifications: * Experience developing training for ISS crewmembers or human spaceflight missions * Background in custom simulation tooling, fault-injection scripting, or telemetry display environments * Prior certification as a flight controller. * Direct experience with NASA, ESA, or equivalent partners on joint training plans and operational products * Mentorship experience with junior engineers while remaining a significant individual contributor 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.

The Exploration Company

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. We're looking for a hands-on Principal Engineer to lead the technical direction of our Test Bench Control System software platform. You will combine deep software engineering expertise with architectural ownership and product-level thinking to ensure our platform reliably supports integrated engine hot-fire testing — with an architecture that can extend to broader test and ground operations as the program matures. You will own the software platform that sits between test engineers and the real-time control layer: enabling operators to author, review, and deploy test sequences and configurable safety parameters onto PLC hardware — while providing the live data visualization, command interfaces, and traceability infrastructure that test campaigns depend on. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES In your capacity as a Principal Engineer, Test Systems Software you will: * Define and evolve the platform architecture spanning test sequence authoring, PLC configuration deployment, real-time data acquisition, and operator interfaces * Write production-grade code across the full stack while owning the technical roadmap and driving major architectural decisions * Translate test requirements and operational needs into feature specifications, managing scope and delivering incrementally toward operational capability * Build high-throughput data pipelines for real-time ingestion, processing, and visualization of high-rate sensor data * Design the full lifecycle for both operational sequences and configurable safety parameters * Define data acquisition standards including device configuration management and calibration traceability * Architect for high reliability, observability, and operational robustness in environments where software faults carry significant hardware and safety consequences * Collaborate with Test Bench Engineers, Propulsion, and Systems Engineering to align software capabilities with campaign requirements * Lead a multidisciplinary team of five — setting engineering standards, guiding code reviews and design reviews, and balancing development velocity with the rigorous quality bar required for safety-critical infrastructure WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FROM YOU The ideal candidate will have: * 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with demonstrated architectural ownership and technical leadership * Strong backend expertise (e.g., Python, C#, or similar) with experience in real-time or near-real-time data processing pipelines * Experience with modern frontend technologies (TypeScript, Vue/React, WebSockets) for operator interfaces and live data dashboards * Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) for deploying and operating distributed service architectures * Deep understanding of distributed systems, API design, and inter-process communication in low-latency environments * Experience designing software systems that integrate with PLCs or similar real-time controllers — understanding the boundaries between deterministic control and higher-level application logic * Familiarity with test bench infrastructure — instrumentation systems, sensor networks, command/response workflows, and procedural automation * Strong grasp of safety-critical software design: deterministic execution, fail-safe defaults, configuration validation, and safe deployment practices in systems where errors carry hardware consequences * Product ownership mindset with strong analytical thinking, technical judgment, and attention to detail * Motivation to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment with high accountability for system readiness Bonus qualifications: * Experience in aerospace, defense, or other safety-critical domains — particularly propulsion test operations or environmental test systems * Familiarity with Beckhoff TwinCAT or IEC 61131-3 programming * Knowledge of data acquisition hardware and software ecosystems (e.g., Beckhoff, Siemens, Measurement Computing) * Experience with hardware interface protocols and device communication (e.g., serial, CAN, Ethernet-based industrial protocols) 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.

The Exploration Company

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. The heart of a spacecraft lies in its propulsion system, and that's why we, at The Exploration Company, are dedicated to developing our own cutting-edge Propulsion Systems ensuring the highest level of efficiency and reliability in our space endeavors. We are seeking a talented Valve Development Engineer to help us in our mission by leading the development of valves for our Nyx. You will be responsible for the technical compliance of the valves (bang bang valve, latching valves, solenoid valves) we will develop. You will report to the Propulsion Units Development & Procurement Principal.. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: * Define and maintain the best technical baseline for the valves, in strong collaboration with the system, avionics, vehicle design and AIT teams: requirements specification (including verification method), product architecture, interfaces (fluidic, mechanical, thermal, electrical and data) and performances. * Actively support the engineering teams (system, VDT, avionics, propulsion) during the Nyx Earth capsule design and development, with a strong focus on valve interfaces. * Create the CAD for the component, create and review engineering drawings, and perform analysis on the component. You are responsible for the component from idealization until the flight delivery of the product. * Structural analysis of each component, referring to the MMPDS and NASA/ESA standards, to define the appropriate safety margins for the component. * Fluidic analysis to evaluate the flow characteristics of the component, along with performing experimental testing to validate your model. * Magnetic analysis to define the anticipated mechanical force margin of the component. Verification and anchoring of the magnetic model through testing of the valve. The testing will then be used to validate the required margins given by NASA/ESA requirements. * Tolerance analysis to ensure that the assembly, given a worst-case tolerance stack, still complies with the requirements flown down from the specifications provided by NASA / ESA. * Support the AIT team during preparation for integration, integration and testing of the valves on the propulsion development and qualification models and on the flight propulsion system, including review and validation of assembly and test procedures, review and validation of test results, and timely resolution of any non-conformances. * Support preparation of flight operations and procedures, participate in rehearsal and flight operations, review and analyse flight data and treat any abnormal fluid component behavior. WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FROM YOU: * Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering (advanced degree preferred). * Minimum of 2 years of experience in the development of valves for aerospace liquid propulsion units. * Strong understanding of valves (solenoid valves, latching valves, torque motor valves...), including design, manufacturing and testing. * Excellent collaboration skills for working effectively across departments to achieve seamless system integration. * Fluency in English. 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.