Electric Propulsion Engineer

ReOrbit; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lunch vouchers

Company events

Occupational health care

Relocation support

Job summary

ReOrbit is seeking experienced Electric Propulsion Engineers to advance propulsion systems for Small Satcom and LEO constellations. Join a seasoned team tackling cost and size reduction while maintaining performance.

Roles can be based at our Helsinki headquarters or Bengaluru, India. You will collaborate across satellite teams to define requirements, trade-offs, and interfaces, driving DFx considerations with the AIT team and working closely with propulsion suppliers to ensure successful

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or comparable STEM discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years in propulsion engineering within commercial space.
• Experience with GEO or LEO satellite programs is preferred.
• Fluent English with strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Define requirements and analyze performance with satellite system teams.
• Conduct propulsion system trade-offs and define subsystem architecture from satellite-level requirements.
• Collaborate to optimize design interfaces (mechanical, thermal, electrical) with DFx considerations.
• Derive system and equipment requirements and coordinate with suppliers and procurement.
• Own propulsion subsystem requirements and oversee verification and traceability.
• Perform propulsion fluidic analyses and manage budgets throughout development.
• Interface with thruster pointing mechanisms and manage related trade-offs and integration.
• Serve as technical liaison with propulsion suppliers and evaluate/approve supplier Deliverables.
• Coordinate MAIT means, requirements, and verification plans with the satellite AIT team.
• Provide engineering inputs to support milestone reviews.

Skills

Propulsion engineering

GEO/LEO experience

System-level engineering

English fluency

Education

Master’s degree

Job description

ReOrbit is looking for experienced Electric Propulsion Engineers to join the team pushing forward the development of propulsion systems for our Small Satcom and LEO constellation programmes. This opportunity will enable you to be part of a very experienced team, embarking on the challenging mission of shrinking the size and reducing the cost of satellites while keeping its performance and life to its maximum capacity.

We are seeking an experienced engineer with a background in the commercial space industry, particularly in GEO communications or satellite constellations. The ideal candidate will have a system-level understanding of propulsion and, ideally, experience designing, implementing, and testing propulsion systems throughout the development lifecycle.

It's an exciting chance to join a dynamic start-up, with the opportunity to make a real impact, to reach our goal of pushing the boundaries of space data transfer.

This job can be based in our headquarter in Helsinki, Finland or Bengaluru, India.

Responsibilities

• Collaborating with satellite system/subsystem teams on performance and operational requirements definition and analysis.
• Conducting propulsion system trade-offs and defining subsystem architecture based on satellite level requirements.
• Working collaboratively to optimise design and interfaces (mechanical, thermal, electrical) and applying strong consideration to DFx aspects with the ReOrbit AIT team.
• Derive subsystem and equipment level requirements to be flowed down to supplier level (via Req Specs and SOWs), and work with the Procurement Team to evaluate proposals and select suppliers.
• Own and manage the propulsion subsystem requirements and oversee their verification whilst ensuring traceability is maintained.
• Perform propulsion system fluidic analyses and maintain engineering budgets (including propellant budget) through the development phases.
• The scope of the propulsion team’s activities also includes the primary technical interface for thruster pointing mechanisms. Conducting trade-offs; managing requirements; evaluating compliance; and managing the interfaces with the selected thruster.
• Act as the technical point of contact with the propulsion suppliers, addressing technical issues as and when they arise, and formally evaluating/approving supplier deliverables at programme milestones.
• Work closely with the satellite AIT team to define, implement and approve propulsion related MAIT means; requirements; and integration and verification plans at subsystem and satellite level.
• Generate and deliver the necessary engineering inputs and documentation to support the satellite level programme milestones.

Skills And Requirements

• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or comparable STEM discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years' experience working within the commercial space industry in propulsion engineering, or comparable technological disciplines. Preferably on GEO communication satellite or LEO constellation development programmes.
• Experience with propulsion in-flight operations would be an advantage.
• Sound knowledge of electric propulsion systems and constituent equipment technologies.
• Familiarity with Thruster Pointing Mechanisms (gimbals, deployment arms) and their design drivers would be an advantage.
• Preferably have led or held a prominent role for a subsystem or equipment development through the engineering life cycle phases, ideally from at least PDR through to flight.
• Proven ability to analyse data; conduct trade-offs; breakdown problems and derive solutions to overcome them.
• Comfortable working closely with external vendors and consortium partners. Enjoys working collaboratively as part of a team.
• Fluent written and spoken skills in English.

What does ReOrbit do?

ReOrbit builds the foundation for the next generation of space applications by transforming satellites into truly intelligent, interconnected platforms, defined by software. Our satellite design philosophy revolves around the idea that satellites must network, communicate with each other and thus improve mission efficiency. How can this be achieved? Thanks to a flexible software-first architecture, where all these aspects are dealt with upfront in the mission concept, as integrated functionalities.

ReOrbit’s top‑notch team of software engineers and system architects develop in-house software, procure hardware from the best-in‑class suppliers, and seamlessly integrate the components to create flexible and secure satellites. Today, we are a rapidly growing company building a very strong multidisciplinary team to support our activities. We are headquartered in Helsinki, Finland with a subsidiaries in Bristol, UK, Bariloche, Argentina and Bengaluru, India.

Working at ReOrbit

At ReOrbit, we are focused on building a strong team as we believe nothing can be accomplished without innovative, humble and curious minds working together on a common goal. We’re all about fostering an inclusive, dynamic environment where equality and diversity are our strength.

We offer

• Challenging but rewarding environment – you will thrive if you are always reflecting on how to make things better. Your ideas will be heard.
• Ambitious and supportive network of people, who are motivated to change the space industry, bringing expertise from both classic and new space .
• Benefits such as lunch vouchers, events, parties, occupational health care and additional health insurance - but most importantly a possibility to be a part of a unique and diverse team, connected by similar mindset and sense of humor.
• We like to spend time together! You can choose activities whichever is to your liking – runOrbit, climbOrbit; become ping pong or board games champion.
• We support relocation and integration into Finnish society.

Join us in our journey of building software enabled satellites for secure communications

and, thus, creating the most compelling in space data flow company of the new space era.

The Company may require a security clearance for certain positions. Any such security clearance will be conducted in accordance with applicable law and the Company's relevant policies