Valve Development Engineer

The Exploration Company; Bordeaux; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company in Bordeaux is seeking a talented Valve Development Engineer to lead the design and development of solenoid isolation valves for our storable propulsion system, from concept through qualification.

You will own the electromagnetic, mechanical, and sealing design to ensure reliable valve performance across mission life, with cross-functional collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, and test teams. Occasional travel to Munich may be required.

Qualifications

• B.S. in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering with hands-on valve design experience.
• Experience in solenoid/electromagnetic actuator design.
• Solid understanding of sealing technology and propellant compatibility.
• Proficiency in CAD (CATIA, NX) and mechanical analysis tools.
• Experience defining and supporting qualification test campaigns for valves.
• Familiarity with NASA/ECSS valve qualification standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of solenoid isolation valves from concept to qualification.
• Perform mechanical sizing and trade studies to support decisions.
• Design the solenoid actuator and collaborate on drive electronics and EMI/EMC considerations.
• Coordinate with materials and test teams for qualification and test plans.
• Support anomaly investigations and root-cause analysis for valve issues.

Skills

Valve design

Electromagnetic actuator design

Propellant compatibility

CAD proficiency

Qualification test campaigns

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering

Tools

CATIA/NX CAD

Mechanical analysis tools

Job description

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 Valve Development Engineer, you will lead the design and development of solenoid isolation valves for our storable propulsion system, from concept through qualification — owning the electromagnetic, mechanical, and sealing design that makes the valve work reliably over the mission life.

Role Overview

Valve Design & Development

• Support the design of solenoid isolation valves from concept through qualification, balancing performance, mass, reliability, and manufacturability.

• Define and mature valve architecture — poppet/seat design, actuation mechanism, sealing concept — to meet functional and interface requirements.

• Perform mechanical sizing and trade studies (force margins, spring rates, stroke, response time) to support design decisions.

Electromagnetic & Actuation Design

• Design and analyze the solenoid actuator — coil, armature, magnetic circuit — to meet response time, power, and force margin requirements.

• Collaborate with electrical engineers on coil drive electronics and EMI/EMC considerations.

• Support trade-offs between actuation force, power consumption, and thermal dissipation.

Materials, Sealing & Propellant Compatibility

• Select materials and seal designs compatible with storable propellants, ensuring long-term compatibility and low permeation/leakage.

• Define sealing concepts — elastomeric or metal-to-metal — balancing leak-tightness, cycle life, and contamination sensitivity.

• Coordinate with materials engineering on qualification of propellant-wetted materials.

Design Verification & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Define and support the verification plan for valve qualification, working closely with test engineers on test setup and success criteria.

• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to ensure design manufacturability and testability.

• Support anomaly investigations and root cause analysis for valve-level issues, feeding lessons learned back into the design.

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

• B.S. in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering with hands‑on experience designing valves or similar electromechanical fluid components for space or aerospace applications.

• Experience in solenoid/electromagnetic actuator design (magnetic circuit design, coil design) is a strong plus.

• Strong understanding of sealing technology, elastomer and metal seal design, and propellant compatibility; storable propellant experience preferred.

• Proficiency in CAD (CATIA, NX, or equivalent) and mechanical analysis tools.

• Experience defining and supporting qualification test campaigns for valves.

• Familiarity with applicable standards for valve qualification (NASA, ECSS, or equivalent).

Skills and Behaviours:

• 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 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.