Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer

The Exploration Company; Castres-Gironde; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company is seeking an experienced Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer to lead the Assembly, Integration and Test efforts for two cryogenic propulsion systems. You will provide technical direction across two AIT teams, ensuring safe, rigorous testing from hardware readiness to system delivery.

You will guide test planning, anomaly resolution, and root-cause investigations while mentoring team leaders and coordinating resources to meet performance, quality, schedule, and safety

Qualifications

• Degree in mechanical, aerospace, propulsion engineering or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in high-technology environments such as spacecraft, launch vehicles or related fields.
• Experience leading AIT activities, or propulsion system test campaigns, across multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to manage complex technical investigations and resolve test anomalies.
• Strong understanding of configuration management, verification and requirements compliance.
• Experience with cryogenic systems, liquid propulsion and high‑pressure test operations.
• Ability to travel to test sites and partner facilities as required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for AIT activities of cryogenic propulsion systems.
• Define AIT approach, plans and execution strategy.
• Ensure alignment of AIT with system requirements and milestones.
• Review and approve AIT procedures, tests, reports and changes.
• Lead investigations and resolve complex AIT problems; manage anomalies.
• Oversee preparation, integration, testing and acceptance of propulsion systems.
• Coordinate anomaly investigations and corrective actions with proper retest actions.
• Ensure safety compliance and adherence to procedures during AIT operations.
• Mentor and develop AIT team leaders; balance resources across systems.
• Contribute to integrated project planning including schedules and milestones.
• Identify risks and define mitigation actions for AIT activities.
• Ensure compliance with company processes and regulatory requirements for propulsion AIT.

Skills

AIT leadership and coordination

Cryogenic propulsion experience

Test campaign planning

Technical investigations

Configuration management

Test facilities & data acquisition

Travel ability

Written & verbal communication

English proficiency

French language advantage

Education

Mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering

Propulsion engineering

Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building innovative aerospace technologies that advance the future of space transportation.

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 are seeking an experienced and talented Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer, to lead the Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) activities for two cryogenic propulsion systems. Each system is supported by a dedicated AIT team.

This is a key leadership role that requires technical expertise in liquid-propellant propulsion systems, a strong track record in managing complex engineering projects, and proven experience in leading and mentoring technical teams.

As the Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring safe, efficient and technically rigorous execution of propulsion AIT activities from hardware readiness through system-level testing and delivery, provide technical direction across both teams, coordinate priorities and resources, resolve complex technical issues, and ensure that the propulsion systems meet their performance, quality, schedule and safety objectives.

This role combines technical leadership, people leadership and hands‑on involvement in the preparation and execution of complex cryogenic propulsion test campaigns.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall technical leadership for the AIT activities of cryogenic propulsion systems

• Define and maintain the AIT approach, philosophy, plans and technical execution strategy

• Ensure that AIT activities are aligned with system requirements, design intent, verification objectives and programme milestones

• Review and approve AIT procedures, test specifications, test plans, test reports, non-conformance dispositions and engineering change documentation

• Lead the technical assessment and resolution of complex AIT problems, including test anomalies, hardware issues, instrumentation problems and system performance deviations

• Oversee the preparation, integration, functional testing and acceptance activities for the propulsion systems

• Coordinate the investigation of anomalies and ensure that root‑cause analysis, corrective actions and retest activities are properly managed

• Ensure that all AIT activities are performed in accordance with applicable safety rules, operational constraints and approved procedures

• Lead and support the propulsion AIT Team Leaders, ensuring clear priorities, ownership and effective communication

• Balance resources and priorities across all propulsion systems according to programme needs and test criticality

• Support the development of the teams through coaching, technical guidance and constructive feedback

• Build a culture of ownership, disciplined execution, continuous improvement and learning from experience

• Contribute to integrated project planning, including AIT schedules, resource requirements, facility usage and major test milestones

• Identify technical, operational and schedule risks related to AIT activities and ensure that mitigation actions are defined and tracked

• Ensure compliance with company processes and applicable regulatory requirements for propulsion AIT activities

• Promote a strong safety culture, particularly for activities involving cryogenic fluids, high pressure, hazardous energy and propulsion test operations

• Support quality investigations, audits, non-conformance management and corrective and preventive actions

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, propulsion engineering or a related technical discipline

• Proven professional experience (5+ years) in spacecraft, launch vehicle, aircraft, industrial gas, energy or another relevant high-technology environment

• Strong experience in Assembly, Integration and Test, ideally involving propulsion systems or other complex fluid and pressure systems

• Proven experience leading engineering teams and coordinating multidisciplinary technical activities

• Experience with cryogenic systems, liquid propulsion, pressurised systems, fluid systems or related test operations

• Experience planning and executing complex test campaigns from test preparation through final reporting

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical investigations and resolve test anomalies using structured problem-solving methods.

• Strong understanding of configuration management, verification and validation, requirements compliance and technical documentation

• Experience working with test facilities, ground support equipment, instrumentation and data acquisition systems

• Capacity to travel to test sites and partner facilities as required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Fluent professional English. French will be an advantage

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?

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.