Valves Development Engineer [Orbital Vehicle]

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. As a talented Valve Development Engineer, you will lead the design and development of solenoid isolation valves for our storable propulsion system, from concept through qualification — owning the electromagnetic, mechanical, and sealing design that makes the valve work reliably over the mission life. ROLE OVERVIEW Valve Design & Development * Support the design of solenoid isolation valves from concept through qualification, balancing performance, mass, reliability, and manufacturability. * Define and mature valve architecture — poppet/seat design, actuation mechanism, sealing concept — to meet functional and interface requirements. * Perform mechanical sizing and trade studies (force margins, spring rates, stroke, response time) to support design decisions. Electromagnetic & Actuation Design * Design and analyze the solenoid actuator — coil, armature, magnetic circuit — to meet response time, power, and force margin requirements. * Collaborate with electrical engineers on coil drive electronics and EMI/EMC considerations. * Support trade-offs between actuation force, power consumption, and thermal dissipation. Materials, Sealing & Propellant Compatibility * Select materials and seal designs compatible with storable propellants, ensuring long-term compatibility and low permeation/leakage. * Define sealing concepts — elastomeric or metal-to-metal — balancing leak-tightness, cycle life, and contamination sensitivity. * Coordinate with materials engineering on qualification of propellant-wetted materials. Design Verification & Cross-Functional Coordination * Define and support the verification plan for valve qualification, working closely with test engineers on test setup and success criteria. * Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to ensure design manufacturability and testability. * Support anomaly investigations and root cause analysis for valve-level issues, feeding lessons learned back into the design. 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 * 5+ years of hands-on experience designing valves or similar electromechanical fluid components for space or aerospace applications. * Experience in solenoid/electromagnetic actuator design (magnetic circuit design, coil design) is a strong plus. * Strong understanding of sealing technology, elastomer and metal seal design, and propellant compatibility; storable propellant experience preferred. * Proficiency in CAD (CATIA, NX, or equivalent) and mechanical analysis tools. * Experience defining and supporting qualification test campaigns for valves. * Familiarity with applicable standards for valve qualification (NASA, ECSS, or equivalent). Skills and Behaviours: * 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.

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 also developing different types of propulsion systems to power our future vehicles and missions. As a talented Test Development Engineer, you will be responsible for the development of test facilities for our future propulsion systems. Key Responsibilities: In your capacity as a Test Development Engineer, your role will be continuously evolving, but day to day your duties will include: * Synthesise test bench requirements from user and operator needs and plan required verification methods and tests. * Preparing P&IDs of test facilities based on test bench requirements, selecting components and undertaking CAD design of the ground support equipment with minimal oversight. * Undertake hazard assessments of the test facility design (FMEA and HAZOPs) to determine if any additional changes to the design are required. * Perform technical trade-offs to determine the best choice of hardware, software, equipment, component, location etc for various test facilities. * Autonomously leading risk assessment analyses for future tests and developing mitigation actions to ensure personnel and hardware safety; developing clear procedures and guidelines to improve company processes. * Develop and maintain test procedures, sequences, scripts and configuration files required for test facilities, particularly those required for the entry-into-service and commissioning phase of the system. * Selecting control and data acquisition systems based on test requirements and support commissioning activities to ensure the proper working order of these systems. * Lead and coordinate end-to-end activities of the development of test facilities including design, reviews, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, test operations, ongoing upgrades and maintenance. * Work with procurement, AIT and design teams during the development of test facilities to find the right balance of technical solutions, cost and lead time. * Collaborate with others to troubleshoot test anomalies and tackle challenging engineering problems. * Presenting findings to team members and participating in design reviews and project discussions. What we would love to see from you: * Bachelor's, master's or PhD in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field (Master’s and above preferred). * 2–5 years of experience in propulsion or related fields. * Hands on experience with test bench design and development, especially for cryogenic rocket engine testing. * Experience in testing or test development in other related fields (e.g. liquid hydrogen) will also be considered. * Background in cryogenic propellants and cryogenic systems will be a big plus. * Experience undertaking detailed risk and hazard assessments for testing activities. * Exposure to the process of obtaining environmental analysis for test facilities is also a plus. * Experience using CAD Software (Siemens NX, CATIA, or similar) to develop and manage complex assemblies. * Familiarity with data acquisition and control systems and how to select appropriate hardware based on requirements. * Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities. * Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences. 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 engine, 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 endeavours. We are seeking a talented Combustion Devices Development Engineer to join our Future Project division in the development of the Storm Engine. As a key member of our engineering team, you will be responsible for designing, analyzing, and optimizing combustion devices for cryogenic rocket engines. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * Carry-out the functional and hydraulic design of combustion devices * Review subsystems requirements and carrying out trades to define combustion devices architecture * Supervision of external subcontractors * Organize and support combustion devices component test campaigns (configuration definition, test preparation, execution and results analyses) * Develop and update fluidic models based on literature review and/or experimental data * Iterate subsystem designs using simulated and/or real-world test data WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FROM YOU * Masters/bachelors with honours or higher in Aerospace Engineering, or a related and applicable technical discipline * Hands-on experience developing hardware from concept to working hardware * Strong technical fundamentals in design, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer * Proficient with CAD (Siemens NX is an asset), and/or other CAE design * Experience with analysis software (FLUENT or OpenFOAM preferred) * A methodical approach to problem-solving and design trades * Experience writing software/scripts in languages such as Python * Familiar with cryogenic fluids is a strong asset SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS * Strong oral and written communication skills * Strong analysis and problem-solving skills * Strong organizing and prioritization of tasks * Excited for the future of space exploration and a strong interest in propulsion systems * Demonstrates behaviours consistent with The Exploration Company’s core values of Mission, Vision, Integrity, Excellence and Teamwork * Space enthusiast: ready to have an impact on the future global space industry 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.