Combustion Devices Development Engineer | Igniters

Department: US & Future Programs

Location: Bordeaux, France

Employment Type: FullTime

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.

At the heart of a spacecraft lies in its engine, and that's why we, at The Exploration Company, are dedicated to developing our own cutting-edge Propulsion Systems ensuring the highest level of efficiency and reliability in our space endeavors.

We are seeking a talented Combustion Devices Development Engineer to join our Future Projects division. This role encompasses general contributions to combustion devices development for our high-thrust engine, but has specific emphasis on the development of its ignition systems. The successful candidate will define concepts, lead design trades, coordinate validation activities, and guide hardware maturation from the first principals until hot-fire.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead detailed functional, hydraulic, and thermal design of combustion devices, focusing on ignition systems and associated fluid and gas-path hardware.

• Review subsystems requirements and carry out trades to define combustion devices architecture and down-select architectures consistent with performance, manufacturability, and reusability objectives.

• Drive ignition system development, including concept evaluation, sequencing assumptions, propellant conditioning considerations, and validation and verification strategies. Architectures may include torch, resonant, or alternative approaches.

• Organize combustion device test campaigns including configuration definition, test preparation, risk assessment, instrumentation planning and finally, execution and results analyses.

• Develop and maintain design models/tools developed from state-of-the-art literature and improved through iterative and empirical means.

• Generate design deliverables, support preliminary and detailed design reviews, and lead closure of action items and nonconformances.

• Work directly with internal and external suppliers on design-for-manufacture, manufacturing readiness, and quality. Provide technical direction to subcontractors and review their deliverables.

What we would love to see from you

• Masters/bachelors with honours or higher in Aerospace Engineering, or a related and applicable technical discipline.

• Demonstrated experience taking hardware from concept through detailed design, manufacture, and test.

• Strong fundamentals in combusting flows, heat transfer, and high-pressure fluid systems.

• Proficient with CAD (Siemens NX is an asset), and/or other CAE design and analysis software (i.e. FLUENT)

• A methodical approach to problem-solving and design trades.

• Experience scripting or software development that support design workflows in languages such as Python.

• Familiarity with cryogenic fluids is a strong asset.

Skills and Behaviors

• Strong and clear written and verbal communication and able to convey technical rationale to a wide variety of stakeholders.

• Strong analytical ability and disciplined problem solving under ambiguity and schedule pressure.

• Effective prioritization across concurrent tasks and development streams.

• Excited for the future of space exploration and a strong interest in propulsion systems.

• Demonstrates behaviors consistent with The Exploration Company’s core values of Mission, Vision, Integrity, Excellence and Teamwork

• Space enthusiast: ready to have an impact on the future global space industry

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.