Spacecraft Propulsion Architect

ClearSpace; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ClearSpace is seeking a Spacecraft Propulsion Architect to lead propulsion architecture and guide system-level trade-offs for ambitious in-space missions. You will drive design decisions, budgets and interfaces across the propulsion domain while mentoring engineers and coordinating with external partners.

The role sits within the MTP team, with opportunities to steer propulsion strategies, ensure mission success, and contribute to a sustainable space future. London-area or UK presence preferred.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of spacecraft propulsion engineering experience.
• Experience in spacecraft propulsion architecture or equivalent senior technical leadership positions.
• Strong expertise in propulsion systems, including chemical and/or electric propulsion technologies.
• Experience leading propulsion design trade-offs at spacecraft level.
• Strong understanding of fluid systems, propellant management, pressurization systems and propulsion hardware.
• Experience performing propulsion sizing analyses and architecture definition activities.
• Experience managing spacecraft propulsion requirements, interfaces and technical baselines.
• Understanding of subsystem interactions from a system-level perspective.
• Familiarity with spacecraft integration, environmental testing and verification campaigns.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical discussions and drive technical convergence.
• Proven track record of successful delivery of complex spacecraft developments.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the spacecraft propulsion architecture throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Lead the definition and justification of the spacecraft propulsion concept and design.
• Drive system-level propulsion trade-offs involving performance, reliability, operational concepts and mission constraints.
• Establish and maintain propulsion budgets, margins and system allocations.
• Define propulsion subsystem architectures, including fluid systems, pressurization systems and propulsion hardware.
• Lead propulsion sizing analyses, performance assessments and system-level trade studies.
• Define propulsion requirements and interfaces across all spacecraft subsystems.
• Coordinate propulsion analyses required to justify the design and demonstrate compliance.
• Define propulsion verification strategies and support qualification, acceptance and launch readiness activities.
• Assess technical impacts of changes, anomalies and non-conformances affecting the spacecraft propulsion architecture.
• Support subsystem and system design reviews and provide technical leadership for propulsion-related design decisions.
• Lead technical interactions with customers, suppliers, partners and institutional stakeholders.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to the development of propulsion engineering standards and best practices.

Skills

Propulsion architecture

Propulsion systems

Trade-off analysis

Requirements management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

System engineering

Mentoring

Cross-functional leadership

Education

MSc or PhD in Aerospace Engineering

BSc in related field

Tools

ECSS standards

Job description

At ClearSpace, we believe in reusability, in affordability driving disruption, and that no progress is real unless it is sustainable.

Our company was founded in 2018 out of the realization that in-orbit servicing and space debris removal are vital services for the future of space exploration and operations. Today ClearSpace has assembled an expert engineering team and is leading the way toward sustainable space operations. From a garage in Switzerland, we now operate across UK and Europe, and are working with world-leading institutions and companies to bring our dream of a sustainable space ecosystem to life.

We are looking for a Spacecraft Propulsion Architect to join our team !

The Role

The successful candidate will be a key member of the Mechanical, Thermal and Propulsion (MTP) team and will act as the technical authority for the spacecraft propulsion design. The Propulsion Architect will contribute directly to the development of ClearSpace’s platform and support propulsion-related architectural decisions.

There is also an opportunity for the right candidate to act as the lead coordinator for the Mechanical, Thermal, and Propulsion domains on the mission, ensuring coherent spacecraft design solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Own the spacecraft propulsion architecture throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Lead the definition and justification of the spacecraft propulsion concept and design.
• Drive system-level propulsion trade-offs involving performance, reliability, operational concepts and mission constraints.
• Establish and maintain propulsion budgets, margins and system allocations.
• Define propulsion subsystem architectures, including fluid systems, pressurization systems and propulsion hardware.
• Lead propulsion sizing analyses, performance assessments and system-level trade studies.
• Define and manage propulsion requirements and interfaces across all spacecraft subsystems.
• Coordinate propulsion analyses required to justify the design and demonstrate compliance.
• Define propulsion verification strategies and support qualification, acceptance and launch readiness activities.
• Assess technical impacts of changes, anomalies and non-conformances affecting the spacecraft propulsion architecture.
• Support subsystem and system design reviews and provide technical leadership for propulsion-related design decisions.
• Lead technical interactions with customers, suppliers, partners and institutional stakeholders.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to the development of propulsion engineering standards and best practices.

Must Have

• 10+ years of experience in spacecraft propulsion engineering.
• Proven experience in spacecraft propulsion architecture or equivalent senior technical leadership positions.
• Strong expertise in spacecraft propulsion systems, including chemical and/or electric propulsion technologies.
• Experience leading propulsion design trade-offs at spacecraft level.
• Strong understanding of fluid systems, propellant management, pressurization systems and propulsion hardware.
• Experience performing propulsion sizing analyses and architecture definition activities.
• Experience managing spacecraft propulsion requirements, interfaces and technical baselines.
• Understanding of subsystem interactions from a system-level perspective.
• Familiarity with spacecraft integration, environmental testing and verification campaigns.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical discussions and drive technical convergence.
• Proven track record of successful delivery of complex spacecraft developments.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.

Nice to have

• MSc or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Experience with robotic spacecraft, active debris removal or servicing missions.
• Experience with cold-gas, monopropellant, bipropellant and electric propulsion systems.
• Familiarity with ECSS standards and ESA programmes.
• Experience supporting launch campaigns and in-orbit commissioning activities.
• Knowledge of the thermal and structural impacts of propulsion integration.
• Experience working with international suppliers and industrial partners.
• Strong mentoring and technical leadership experience.
• Agile, flexible and able to work effectively within geographically distributed development teams.

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