[Nyx Earth] Propulsion Design Office Principal

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 Propulsion CAD Engineer, you will be responsible for the detailed 3D modeling, drawing production, and documentation of propulsion system components and subsystems, working closely with design, thermal, structural, and manufacturing teams to turn requirements into buildable, well-controlled hardware. ROLE OVERVIEW CAD Modeling & Design Development * Create complex 3D models of propulsion components and subsystems using CAD software (Siemens NX). * Produce schematics and technical drawings that other engineers and technicians can follow, and present designs clearly, explaining complex aspects in simple terms when needed. * Support estimation of component mass, cost and lead time from CAD models and drawings. Documentation & Configuration Control * Create and maintain the documentation essential for manufacturing or assembly, including bills of materials (BOM), assembly instructions, and technical reports. * Ensure configuration management and version control of CAD models and drawings, keeping the master model and released drawing set consistent and traceable. * Develop new tools and workflows to improve CAD, documentation, and configuration management processes across the design office. Cross-Functional Design Collaboration * Collaborate closely with designers, thermal and structural analysts, and materials and manufacturing engineers to refine designs. * Incorporate multidisciplinary feedback to improve functionality, manufacturability, and efficiency without compromising design intent. * Support design iterations quickly and accurately so analysis and manufacturing teams can work from a stable, up-to-date model. Standards Compliance & Design Verification * Verify that designs comply with industry standards, safety regulations, and company policies (e.g., ISO standards, ANSI, or other relevant guidelines). * Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) correctly to ensure drawings communicate functional intent, not just geometry. * Check designs for manufacturability, inspectability, and compliance before release, catching errors and inconsistencies before they reach the shop floor. 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 * Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering and 3+ years of related experience. * Proficiency in CAD software such as Siemens NX or similar. * Proficiency in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T). * Experience on tubing and brackets design constraints, manufacturing processes and inspection is a plus * Attention to detail and ability to spot errors or inconsistencies in drawings and designs. * Strong understanding of engineering standards, manufacturing processes, and analysis principles. * Fundamental knowledge of structural design, stability, and fatigue failure mechanisms.. * Fluent in English. German and French are an asset. Skills and Behaviors: * 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.

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 Propulsion Structural Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, justification, testing and validation of the mechanical structure of the propulsion system and its interfaces with the primary structure. ROLE OVERVIEW Structural Analysis & Technical Ownership * Review static and dynamic load inputs, material properties, test data, and component requirements to properly set up structural analysis cases. * Produce stress and fatigue analysis results with detailed validation methodologies and rigorous justification of the propulsion system's structural margins, applying the standards (including fracture control) required for NASA certification. * Assess the integration of of-the-shelf equipment to the propulsion system within the overall system considering their qualified loads * Own the structural substantiation of propulsion components and structures from concept through qualification, ensuring traceability between requirements, analysis, and test. * Design Collaboration & Mechanical Development * Work closely with design engineers to validate mechanical sizing and help them iterate through designs as efficiently as possible. * Design simple mechanical components from scratch and propose creative structural solutions to design engineers, drawing on analysis results and hands-on experience. * Support trade studies on structural architecture, materials, and joint design for propulsion structures and brackets. * Test Campaign Development & Support * Develop and support hardware test campaigns — coupon or sub-assembly testing — to gather analysis inputs or validation data. * Define test objectives and success criteria in coordination with test engineering, and correlate test results back into analysis models. * Identify appropriate test platforms and instrumentation needs for structural verification. * Support non-conformities analyses and resolve process * Anomaly Investigation & Non-Conformance Management * Act as a key contributor to anomaly investigations, performing root cause analyses on structural damage or unexpected test/flight behavior. * Justify non-conformities against structural requirements and support disposition decisions with sound engineering rationale. * Feed lessons learned from anomalies back into design standards and analysis practices. 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 in structural analysis for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or space capsules, ideally with exposure to liquid propulsion structures and systems. * Strong command of FEA tools (NASTRAN or equivalent) complemented by solid hand-calculation skills, for both static and dynamic (vibration, shock, fatigue) load cases. * Familiarity with the standards and processes required for structural certification (e.g. NASA-STD-5001, ECSS, or equivalent), and experience producing analysis reports that hold up under formal review. * Working knowledge of CAD environments (CATIA, NX, or equivalent), sufficient to review, sketch, and propose mechanical design changes. * Experience supporting or running test campaigns, from test definition through correlation of results with predictions. * A track record of contributing to anomaly investigations or non-conformance dispositions in a hardware-delivery environment. Skills and Behaviors': * 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.