
The Exploration Company · Munich
Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled ...
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 want you as a talented CAD designer to help us in our mission by modelling the physical architecture of our spacecraft.
You will be successful in this role if you are able to help us:
● To contribute to the definition of our overall vehicle architecture,
● To contribute to the detailed definition of our vehicle.
the choices in terms of overall architecture, aeroshape, equipment accommodation and main materials.
outcomes of the thermo-mechanical computation loops and system trade-offs.
physical architecture with the mission environments and manufacturing constraints.
guidelines or orders of magnitude in order to converge on the feasibility of a solution, based on engineering feeling or
simplified analytical approach.
Excellence.
Why you should join us!
What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:
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.
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 CAD Design Engineer - Thermal Control System (TCS) who will support the design and integration of the spacecraft TCS, while also actively contributing to spacecraft structure development activities. The role spans preliminary design to detailed definition, with a strong emphasis on TCS - structure integration, overall vehicle architecture coherence, and complex piping design. 🛠️ KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: * Contribute to the CAD design of the Thermal Control System (TCS) using Siemens NX, covering both passive and active thermal control elements. * Lead and support the CAD definition of TCS piping and fluid loops, including routing, interfaces, supports, and clearances. * Support the CAD design and maturation of primary and secondary spacecraft structures, in close interaction with TCS needs and constraints. * Contribute to the definition and maturation of the overall vehicle physical architecture, including aeroshape, structure, and subsystem accommodation. * Iterate and mature CAD models based on thermo-mechanical analysis loops, structural analyses, material trade-offs, and system-level constraints. * Ensure robust interfaces between TCS, structures, and subsystems (avionics, propulsion, mechanisms, etc.). * Collaborate closely with thermal and structural analysts, materials and manufacturing engineers to converge on feasible and robust design solutions. * Maintain the configuration management of CAD models and associated data. * Contribute to mass estimation and tracking for TCS and structural elements, supported by the CAD models and system databases. * Participate in co-engineering sessions with system, aerodynamics, GNC, propulsion, avionics, and mission analysis teams to assess feasibility, margins, and integration constraints. * Define volume allocations, clearances, and interface envelopes for TCS and structural parts. * Contribute to the continuous improvement of CAD methods, design rules, and integration processes. * Produce technical drawings and documentation, and actively participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR, etc.). 🎓 WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FROM YOU 📜 QUALIFICATIONS: * Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering, * Minimum of 3 years of experience in CAD design for spacecraft structures, spacecraft thermal control systems, or closely related domains, * Experience with CAD software's such as Siemens NX (preferably), * Experience in piping modelling and associated manufacturing processes. * Good understanding of: * thermal control principles (active and passive), * fluid loops and piping systems, * spacecraft structural design principles and thermo‑mechanical constraints. * Fluent in English. German, French or Italian are an asset. 🛠️ SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS: * Strong oral and written communication skills, * Strong analysis and problem-solving skills, * Strong organising and prioritisation of tasks, * Positive and flexible attitude to get the job done, * Demonstrates behaviours consistent with The Exploration Company’s core values of Vision, Mission, Teamwork, Integrity and Excellence. * 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.
Own the physical integration of our autonomy platform into drones, payloads and ground systems. Your work defines the fieldability, performance and production quality of our core hardware. ABOUT SE3 SE3 Labs is building Spatial AI by combining 3D computer vision with large language models (LLMs). We believe the ability to reason about and act within physical space is foundational to unlocking the next generation of automation, from construction to smart infrastructure, and with a strong focus on defense. Now, we’re building the physical platform to bring Spatial AI to life. That means high-performance, real-world robotic systems and we’re looking for a skilled, hands-on engineer who can turn strong concepts into robust products. ABOUT THE ROLE As Mechanical Design Engineer, Unmanned Systems, you’ll design the mechanisms, enclosures and physical integration of our on-board systems into various UAV platforms. From concept trade-off to CAD to flight test and on to production introduction, you will bring electronics, airframes, payloads and ground systems together into flying, connected and advanced multi-domain systems. You’ll report directly to our Hardware Lead and collaborate most closely with electronics developers and prototyping team. SE3 sets no bounds on collaboration so you will engage with our customer-facing colleagues and AI software developers to realize an ambitious vision of whole systems with intelligent drones at the center. Mechanical integration will be your domain, and you’ll be trusted to own it independently. WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON * Requirements & Concepts: Translate mission-needs into hardware requirements and trade-off design concepts to meet them * Design & Engineer: Design and refine sealed avionics enclosures, cooling concepts, interfaces, connection and release mechanisms, packaging and integration into UAVs and ground systems such as charging-, control- and launch platforms * Prototype & Iterate: Build, rework, and test hardware with speed and precision, in simulation, test rigs and in flight * Validate & Field-Test: Analyze and improve designs via simulation and real-world testing up until and including exercises with partners and armed forces * Document and Industrialize: Make your work the lasting foundation of our tech and bring it into thousands of customers’ hands in collaboration with our manufacturing partner network YOUR PROFILE * M.Sc. in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a related field * You bring 2+ years of hands-on experience in hardware design and development, ideally including mechanism design from concept to tested (sub-) system * You’re highly proficient in 3D modelling (CAD, preferably Onshape) and creating production-quality drawings * You’re familiar with selection and sizing of structural elements, fasteners, interfaces and thermal paths * You understand kinematics, packaging and electro-mechanical systems * You know when a simple answer is the right answer, and when a design needs deeper analysis, precision and careful consideration * You speak fluent English; German is a plus * Most importantly, you’re structured, fast-moving, and mission-driven. You don’t wait for perfection. You iterate until it works. You love building things that last. ESPECIALLY VALUED BONUS SKILLS * Experience in designing lightweight electronic enclosures for harsh conditions * You’ve independently prototyped and tested mechanisms and seen them through refinement cycles into production * Experience with ISO GD&T, DFM/DFA, FEA interpretation and material selection * Thermal design and analysis for compact electronics or similar systems * Hardware testing & qualification experience (ideally including MIL-STD thermal, vibration, etc.) * Skilled in designing fixtures and test-rigs * Familiarity with light UAVs or aircraft systems or defense equipment PERKS & BENEFITS * Work Environment to Excel at: Find a high-quality and modern toolset, flat hierarchy and a skilled, driven team which will push the limits together with you * AI-boosted workplace: We empower every employee with best-in-class AI tools and agents, giving you unlimited access to the latest advancements and a true productivity edge * Real Ownership: Get early, real stock to participate directly in SE3’s growth * 31 Paid Days Off: 30 vacation days plus your birthday off * Well-being Access: Free membership to gyms, yoga, and wellness through EGYM Wellpass * Team Offsites: We go on 2 company retreats per year, our last ones were in Italy, Greece and Spain * Mentorship: Work closely with experienced engineers and get paired with a professional mentor to support your growth OUR PROCESS 1. Intro Call (20 min): Let’s get to know each other (conducted by our Talent Team) 2. Technical Interview (60 min): Diving deeper into your experience, skills and and engineering thought process with practical examples (with Lukas, our Hardware Lead) 3. Team Dinner/Lunch: See if it’s a culture fit on both sides
WHO WE ARE At Proxima Fusion, we're driven by a bold mission – to redefine the future of sustainable energy. Our unique concept, built upon the groundbreaking W7-X stellarator and the latest advances in technology, paves the way for commercially viable fusion power plants. What’s more, our work in stellarator optimization, powered by cutting-edge computation and machine learning, is propelling us into uncharted territories of fusion technology. New higher performance design points are unlocked by high temperature superconducting magnets. To fully grasp this huge opportunity, we’re building a team of extremely dedicated and passionate people who come together driving something extraordinary, radically transforming technology in the world. WHY JOIN PROXIMA FUSION * You will get to work on some of the most complex tech challenges to bring abundant, safe, clean energy to the world. * You'll get to join and learn from an exceptional selection of accomplished and driven individuals. * Do your life’s best work and enjoy the journey. * Get to show that big things are possible in Europe when you assemble the best talent. YOUR IMPACT As a Mechanical Design Engineer, you will significantly contribute to the design, analysis, validation and realisation of Proxima’s Alpha stellarator fusion machine. Your innovative and detailed engineering work will deliver robust mechanical, structural, and thermal performance of critical systems, tooling and manufacturing processes. You will also work with external collaborators and suppliers to develop the designs, equipment, systems and materials that will enable Proxima’s mission to deliver clean, sustainable fusion energy. WHAT YOU WILL DO * Develop innovative solutions and detailed mechanical designs for significant systems within the Alpha stellarator, ensuring integration with the broader physics, mechanical and structural systems. * Carry out thermal and structural analysis and assessment of mechanical designs, providing design input and implementing recommended design improvements. * Conduct technology trade-offs, materials selections and feasibility studies to facilitate the successful identification of the Alpha net energy stellarator. * Design, deliver, and support the prototyping and verification of the components, materials, assemblies and manufacturing processes selected for Alpha. * Work with external suppliers and collaborators to assist and guide the development and manufacture of the components and systems that will come together to demonstrate the net energy Alpha stellarator. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR * High performers with excellent communication and problem-solving skills who love challenges and are not afraid to experiment, take risks, and learn from mistakes. * Experience in designing and analysing mechanical components and assemblies, with proficiency in CAD (experience with 3DExperience/CATIA v6 and ANSYS is highly beneficial, but not essential). * Experience in designing and delivering the conceptual and detailed design of mechanical, structural, thermal or electro-mechanical equipment, particularly for use in research, development, prototyping and manufacturing. * Knowledge and experience of designing and selecting materials for some or all of the following engineering applications: high temperature, cryogenic, electromagnetic, vacuum. * Demonstrated ability to work with and manage external suppliers, with multidisciplinary technical teams in fast-paced, dynamic settings. * Proficiency with programming languages used in science and engineering (particularly Python) is highly beneficial but not essential. INTERVIEW PROCESS * Recruiter Interview (30-45 min) * Portfolio Presentation & Review (45-60 min) * Technical Panel Interviews (2x60 min) * CEO call (30 min) Successful applicants will be assigned to one of the Engineering teams within Proxima, depending on their specific skills, location, and the needs of the organisation. This role sits at L2/L3/L4 of our framework, please inquire during the recruitment process for further information At Proxima Fusion, our mission is bold: making limitless clean energy a reality. To get there, we need a high-performing, diverse team that brings different perspectives, challenges assumptions, and builds together with purpose. We know that diversity of thought and experience leads to better ideas, stronger execution, and a more resilient team. We don’t look at how you identify, what you look like, who you choose to worship or what ethnicity you are. We care about what you can bring to the table.