Mechanical Analyses Engineer

The Exploration Company; Bordeaux; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company is building spacecrafts and developing Nyx, a modular, reusable orbital vehicle. We seek a Mechanical Analyses Engineer to advance design, validation and verification of structural architectures for launch, orbit, and reentry environments.

You will collaborate with CAD, thermal and mechanisms teams to optimize structures, select materials, and ensure compliance with space standards while maintaining schedule and cost targets.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 4+ years of mechanical design and architecture experience, preferably in space/aerospace.
• Strong expertise in composite and/or metallic materials and structures sizing.
• Proficiency in FEA tools (Nastran and Hyperworks).
• Excellent communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with manufacturing techniques (e.g., milling, out-of-autoclave curing).

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical design of primary and secondary structures of the vehicle.
• Drive mass optimization strategies while maintaining structural integrity and compliance with mission requirements.
• Design and analyze metallic and composite structures using advanced materials.
• Define material selection and consider manufacturing constraints in the design.
• Support structural development with external suppliers from concept to delivery.
• Develop and manage technical specifications, statements of work, and interface control documents.
• Ensure supplier designs meet performance, quality, and schedule requirements.
• Contribute to the overall mechanical architecture of the spacecraft.
• Ensure integration of structural components with other subsystems (thermal, avionics…).
• Perform or oversee structural analyses (FEA) to validate designs under launch, orbital and reentry environments.
• Support environmental testing and qualification campaigns.
• Generate detailed design documentation and verification plans.
• Ensure compliance with ECSS, NASA, ISO and other space industry standards.

Skills

Fluent English

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Manufacturing awareness

Education

Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Nastran

Hyperworks

Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity.

Here at The Exploration Company we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refueled in orbit, and which carries cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.

We want you as a talented Mechanical Analyses Engineer to help us in our mission by contributing to the development, justification and validation of our vehicle. You will work closely with our CAD, thermal and mechanism engineers to optimize together the vehicle mechanical design. You will be part of the Nyx Design Office and will report to the Principal Mechanical Engineer.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the mechanical design of primary and secondary structures of the vehicle.
• Drive mass optimization strategies while maintaining structural integrity and compliance with mission requirements.
• Design and analyze both metallic and composite structures using advanced materials (e.g., space-graded aluminum alloys, CFRP, honeycomb panels).
• Define material selection and consider manufacturing constraints in the design.
• Support the structural development collaborating with external suppliers, from concept to delivery.
• Develop and manage technical specifications, statements of work, and interface control documents.
• Ensure supplier designs meet performance, quality, and schedule requirements.
• Contribute to the overall mechanical architecture of the spacecraft.
• Ensure proper integration of structural components with other subsystems (thermal, avionics...).
• Perform or oversee structural analyses (FEA) to validate designs under launch, orbital and reentry environments.
• Support environmental testing and qualification campaigns.
• Generate detailed design documentation and verification plans.
• Ensure compliance with relevant space industry standards (e.g., ECSS, NASA, ISO).

What We Would Love to See from You

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 4+ years of experience in mechanical design and architecture, preferably in the space or aerospace sector.
• Strong expertise in composite and or metallic materials and structures sizing.
• Proficiency in FEA tools (Nastran and Hyperworks).
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with manufacturing techniques (e.g., milling, out-of-autoclave curing, ...).

Skills and Behaviors:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical information clearly and concisely,
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment,
• Positive and flexible attitude to get the job done,
• Demonstrates behaviors consistent with The Exploration Company’s core values of Vision, Competence, Integrity and Passion,
• Fluent in English. Knowledge of German, French and Italian is an asset.

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.