Vacuum Hotfire Test Stand Engineer

The Exploration Company; Bordeaux; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company is developing a vacuum hot-fire test facility to advance propulsion testing for legacy propellants. As Vacuum Hotfire Test Stand Engineer, you will translate needs into a complete facility, instrumentation, and control systems, collaborating with internal teams and external partners.

You will lead commissioning, safety analyses, and operations to ensure reliable test capabilities for orbital thruster programs, while maintaining safety and high-quality testing standards.

Qualifications

• Degree in aerospace, propulsion, mechanical, chemical engineering, or related discipline.
• 2+ years hands-on experience with propulsion test benches, preferably with storable/legacy propellants.
• Strong background in fluid systems, pressurized systems, and ground support equipment.
• Knowledge of safety-critical systems, industrial automation, and test operations.
• Excellent communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and specify a vacuum hot-fire test facility for orbital thrusters.
• Translate propulsion test needs into facility, utilities, and ground support equipment requirements.
• Define instrumentation, data acquisition, and control system specs.
• Interface with internal teams, customers, and external partners.
• Plan, execute commissioning and acceptance testing; integrate thruster into test bench.
• Support hazard analyses and develop safety procedures.
• Perform maintenance and safety operations of the test facility.

Skills

Propulsion test benches

Instrumentation

Data acquisition

Safety-critical systems

Communication skills

Education

Degree in aerospace/propulsion/engineering

2+ years propulsion test bench experience

Tools

Hazard analyses

Ground support equipment

Systems integration

Job description

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

We are also developing advanced propulsion capabilities to support our reusable spacecraft programs. We are building a dedicated test capability for storable, hypergolic propulsion systems in the 100–800 N class.

As the Vacuum Hotfire Test Stand Engineer, you will be part of the team that develops the propulsion test facility for legacy propellants (e.g., MON-class oxidizers and MMH-type fuels), from requirements definition through commissioning and operating the test facility. You will be part of the team that develops, commissions and operates the test facility.

Key Responsibilities / Tasks

Design of Test Facility

• Supporting development of a vacuum hot fire test facility which will be used to develop and qualify orbital thrusters - in tandem with the main designer/team leader

• Translate propulsion test needs into facility, utilities, and ground support equipment requirements

• Define instrumentation, data acquisition, and control systems for safe hot-fire testing.

• Interface effectively with internal engineering teams, customers, and external partners.

Assembly & Integration of Test Facility

• Manage suppliers and manufacturing activities; support in integration and verification.

• Support planning and execute commissioning, acceptance testing, and entry-into-service activities.

Safety & Operation of Test Facility

• Support hazard analyses (FMEA, HAZOP, risk assessments) and implement mitigation measures.

• Develop procedures for handling, testing, maintenance, and emergency response.

• Integration of thruster into test bench

• Support operations of test facility and perform hot fire, cold flows, decontamination and maintenance activities

• Perform maintenance activities of the test facility

What We Would Love to See From You

• Degree in aerospace, propulsion system, mechanical, chemical engineering, or a related discipline.

• 2+ years of hands‑on experience with propulsion test benches, preferably with storable/legacy propellants.

• Strong background in fluid systems, pressurized systems, and ground support equipment.

• Knowledge of safety‑critical systems, industrial automation, and test operations.

• Excellent communication skills across technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

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.

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.