Propulsion CFD Engineer

The Exploration Company; Bordeaux; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company is seeking a Propulsion CFD Engineer to lead CFD analyses for propulsion components and thruster plumes in support of spacecraft design. You will simulate internal flow, perform design trades, and contribute to vehicle-level integration decisions.

You will model plume characteristics, assess forces and thermal impacts on adjacent subsystems, and help translate CFD results into actionable design inputs.

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in aerospace or related field, with 3+ years of hands-on CFD experience relevant to propulsion or fluid dynamics.
• Proficiency with CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, or equivalent.
• Experience modeling compressible, multiphase, and/or rarefied gas flows relevant to propulsion valves and thruster plumes.
• Familiarity with plume characterization methods such as DSMC or continuum-rarefied coupling is a strong plus.
• Strong grounding in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and gas dynamics fundamentals.
• Experience correlating CFD predictions against test data.
• Familiarity with scripting or automation (Python, MATLAB) for meshing, post-processing, or workflow automation.
• Fluent in English. German and French are an asset

Responsibilities

• Perform CFD simulations of propulsion components — valves, regulators, orifices, injectors, feed lines — to characterize internal flow and loads.
• Support design trade studies by predicting component-level performance across operating envelope in steady and transient conditions.
• Identify and help resolve flow anomalies such as cavitation, choking, or flow separation.
• Model thruster plume characterization from near-field expansion to far-field rarefied flow and assess effects on surfaces.
• Support system-level trades on component sizing, thruster placement, and plume shielding.
• Validate CFD models against test data to build model confidence and maintain workflows for timely design reviews.

Skills

CFD experience

Aerospace

Python

MATLAB

English fluency

Multiphase flow

Plume modeling

Education

MS or PhD in aerospace

Tools

ANSYS Fluent

STAR-CCM+

OpenFOAM

Python

MATLAB

Job description

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

As a talented Propulsion CFD Engineer, you will be responsible for the computational fluid dynamics analysis of propulsion system components and thruster plumes, providing the flow physics insight that underpins component design, thruster performance, and vehicle-level integration decisions.

CFD Analysis & Component Simulation

• Perform CFD simulations of propulsion components — valves, regulators, orifices, injectors, feed lines — to characterize internal flow, pressure drop, and flow-induced loads.
• Support design trade studies by predicting component-level performance across the operating envelope, in both steady-state and transient conditions.
• Identify and help resolve flow anomalies such as cavitation, choking, or flow separation that affect component performance.

Plume Characterization & Thruster Performance

• Model thruster plume characterization, from near-field continuum expansion through far-field rarefied flow, including relevant gas dynamics effects.
• Assess plume-induced thermal, contamination, and force/torque effects on adjacent subsystems and vehicle surfaces.
• Support thruster and nozzle design by predicting performance parameters such as thrust coefficient and specific impulse from CFD.

Cross-Functional Design Collaboration

• Work closely with propulsion design engineers and structural and thermal analysts to translate CFD results into actionable design inputs and margins.
• Communicate CFD findings and their implications clearly to multidisciplinary teams and program stakeholders.
• Support system-level trades on component sizing, thruster placement, and plume shielding for vehicle interfaces.

Model Validation, Tools & Documentation

• Validate and correlate CFD models against test data — cold-flow testing, hot-fire testing, plume diagnostics — to build and maintain model confidence.
• Maintain and improve CFD simulation workflows, meshing practices, and tools to improve turnaround time and consistency across the design office.
• Produce clear technical reports and analysis documentation supporting design reviews and certification.

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

• M.S. or Ph.D. in aerospace or a related field, with 3+ years of hands-on CFD experience relevant to propulsion or fluid dynamics.
• Proficiency with CFD software such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, or equivalent.
• Experience modeling compressible, multiphase, and/or rarefied gas flows relevant to propulsion valves and thruster plumes.
• Familiarity with plume characterization methods such as DSMC or continuum-rarefied coupling is a strong plus.
• Strong grounding in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and gas dynamics fundamentals.
• Experience correlating CFD predictions against test data.
• Familiarity with scripting or automation (Python, MATLAB) for meshing, post-processing, or workflow automation.
• 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!

• 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.