[Nyx Earth] Senior Propulsion Structural Engineer

The Exploration Company; Bordeaux; Sur place; EUR 90 000 - 130 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The Exploration Company in Bordeaux is seeking a Propulsion Structural Engineer to own the structural substantiation of propulsion components from concept through qualification. You will analyze load cases, justify margins, and interface with design teams across multiple sites.

Responsibilities include supporting test campaigns, anomaly investigations, and ensuring traceability from requirements to test results, with frequent collaboration with remote teams and occasional travel to Munich.

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands-on experience in structural analysis for launch vehicles, spacecraft or space capsules.
• Strong command of FEA tools (NASTRAN or equivalent) and hand-calculation skills.
• Experience with NASA-STD-5001, ECSS or equivalent standards and producing robust analysis reports.

Responsabilités

• Review static and dynamic load inputs, material properties, test data, and component requirements to set up structural analysis cases.
• Produce stress and fatigue analysis results with validated methodologies and justified margins.
• Assess integration of off-the-shelf equipment within the propulsion system and its qualified loads.
• Own the structural substantiation from concept through qualification with traceability to requirements, analysis, and test.
• Collaborate with design engineers to validate sizing and iterate designs.
• Support test campaigns from definition through correlation of results with predictions and provide instrumentation needs.

Connaissances

Structural analysis

FEA tools

CAD (CATIA/NX)

Test campaigns

Anomaly investigations

NASA/ECSS standards

NASTRAN

Outils

NASTRAN

CAD tools

Description du poste

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 completion 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.