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.

The heart of a spacecraft lies in its propulsion system, 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 endeavours.

We want you as a talented Propulsion Hydraulic Mockups Architect to help us in our mission by leading the design, development, manufacturing and testing of the pressure system and the propellant feed system mock-ups we will do in-house to validate the fluidic behaviours and performances of the flight pressure and propellant feed systems, including FDIR.

In your capacity as a Propulsion Hydraulic Mockups Architect, you will be responsible for the on-time and on-cost design and development activities of the hydraulic mockups for the pressure system and feed system.

You will report to the Propulsion Development Models Principal Engineer.

Key responsibilities:

• During the design phase of the flight pressure and propellant feed systems, actively participate in the design activities, providing guidance and constraints related to validation and testing.

• During the design phase of the pressure system and the propellant feed system mock-ups:

  • Work closely with the pressure system engineer, the propellant feed system engineers and the fluid test engineer to define the best configuration of the mock-ups ensuring a high level of representativeness and testability.

  • Define and maintain the test objectives and requirements for the pressure system and the propellant feed system mock-ups, ensuring the highest level of representativeness with the flight systems, testability and observability.

  • Establish and justify, together with the pressure system and the propellant feed system engineers and the fluid test engineer, the architecture and the design (P&ID, PBS, interfaces) of the pressure system and the propellant feed system mock-ups, including their test setups.

  • Manage interfaces with the Propulsion Drive Electronic (e.g. development boards or EM unit) including software (algorithms and FDIR).

  • With the support of a CAD engineer and a structural engineer, conduct the mechanical layout and justification of the mock-ups.

  • With the support of a fluid test engineer, define and conduct all fluid modelling and analyses to verify the representativeness of the mock-ups with the flight systems and to perform test predictions.

  • Elaborate and maintain the test plan and test specification (including nominal and failure cases) and instrumentation plan.

  • Define and select components, parts and sensors and manage their procurement, together with the fluid test engineer.

  • Elaborate and maintain the schedule and cost, ensuring on-time and on-cost of the pressure system and the propellant feed system mock-ups.

• During assembly and testing of the pressure system and the propellant feed system mock-ups:

  • Work together with the fluid test engineer to define the test setups and to elaborate the assembly and test procedures.

  • Support the fluid test engineer during the assembly, troubleshooting and commissioning of the mock-ups including test setups.

  • Support the fluid test engineer during the test campaigns, analysing in real-time the test parameters and the test results with timely resolution of any anomaly arising during testing.

  • Conduct pre-test and post-test reviews and elaborate the test report.

  • Update and correlate the fluidic models based on test results.

What we would love to see from you:

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering.

• Minimum of 5 years of related experience in designing, building, and testing complex fluid systems.

• Strong engineering fundamentals in fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.

• Proficiency in conducting fluid analyses using classical hand calculations and 1D/CFD simulation software (eg EcosimPro, Thermal Desktop).

• Experience using data acquisition equipment, as well as test instrumentation and control components.

• Experience with the generation of test plans as well as planning and conducting development test campaigns.

• Excellent collaboration skills for working effectively across departments.

• Fluency in English.

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.