Valve Test Engineer

The Exploration Company; Bordeaux; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Exploration Company is seeking a Valve Test Engineer II to lead cryogenic valve testing for our high‑thrust engine. You will define, plan, execute, and close valve development test campaigns, acting as the focal point across design, analysis, manufacturing, and quality teams.

We value hands‑on experience with cryogenic tests, instrumentation, data acquisition, and rigorous documentation. Strong collaboration and clear technical writing are essential in our fast‑paced, space‑oriented

Qualifications

• Degree in mechanical, aerospace, propulsion or closely related discipline.
• 3-4 years of experience planning and executing hardware development or qualification tests, ideally involving valves or propulsion hardware.

Responsibilities

• Own valve development test execution and lead campaigns.
• Translate requirements into test plans, procedures and success criteria.
• Define test sequencing, configurations, and readiness criteria.
• Coordinate hardware, test bench, safety, and readiness.
• Lead safety analyses and test readiness reviews.

Skills

Valve testing

Test planning

Data analysis

Project coordination

English language

Education

Degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering

Tools

Instrumentation systems

Job description

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

We want you as a highly talented Valve Test Engineer II, to help us advance our mission by leading cryogenic valve testing for our high-thrust engine. You will be the primary engineer responsible for defining, planning, executing, and closing valve development test campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the valve component-level development test execution for Storm
• Translate engineering questions and requirements into test plans, matrices, procedures, and success criteria
• Define test sequencing, configurations, instrumentation, data needs, and readiness criteria
• Coordinate hardware, test bench, facility, calibration, safety, and operational preparation
• Lead safety analysis and test readiness reviews and drive campaign execution through completion
• Execute and oversee functional, pressure, flow, transient, environmental, endurance, and other campaign-specific tests
• Analyse test data, assess anomalies, and distinguish hardware behaviour from test-system effects
• Produce clear test reports with conclusions, limitations, recommendations, and requirement traceability
• Drive root-cause investigations and use test evidence to guide design iterations and follow-on testing
• Act as the valve-test focal point across design, analysis, manufacturing, quality, systems, and integration teams

Qualifications

• Degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, propulsion, or a closely related discipline
• 3-4 years of experience planning and executing hardware development or qualification tests, ideally involving valves, fluid components, propulsion hardware, or other pressure-bearing components

What We Would Love To See From You

• Strong hands-on experience with functional, pressure, flow, transient, leak, environmental, endurance, or burst testing of cryogenic components
• Practical knowledge of test planning, instrumentation, data acquisition, test execution, and engineering data analysis
• Ability to turn requirements and engineering questions into measurable test objectives, procedures, and acceptance criteria
• Able to work hands-on with hardware and test benches, data acquisition systems, investigate anomalies, and make evidence-based decisions
• Strong technical writing, communication, safety, risk-management, and configuration-control skills
• Comfortable owning a technical topic independently while coordinating effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Experience in space hardware, propulsion, safety-critical, or regulated environments is an advantage
• Rigor and attention to detail are core values in everything we do: you take the time to understand requirements, follow procedures precisely, check your work, and maintain accurate records.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment, taking ownership of getting the hardware ready
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• A passion for space exploration and the motivation to see propulsion hardware move from drawings to tested engines.

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.