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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.

We are looking for an AIT Engineer – Propulsion Valves to support the development and industrialization of our gas and propellant valves, working in close collaboration with the design team.

The role covers three key areas:

• Development of test benches (leak testing, endurance, dynamic performance, PID regulation).

• Establishment of manufacturing and assembly routings (including inspection, passivation, cleanliness, and flight-quality justification).

• Establishment of testing routings

• Definition and execution of test plans for qualification and acceptance, in coordination with design team.

• Participation in building development valves and first flight models.

Main responsibilities

As a Propulsion Valves AIT Engineer, you will be responsible for building the end-to-end industrial flow for flight valves, in direct interface with the design team:

• Test bench development: design, setup, and validation of electrical, mechanical, and fluidic test benches (LabVIEW or equivalent, PID) to verify helium leak rates, actuation torque, dynamic response, regulation performance, endurance, pressure safety factors (proof, burst) and flow characteristics.

• Manufacturing and assembly routings: definition and implementation of assembly sequences, dimensional and particulate inspection, cleaning, passivation, and control procedures, considering design for manufacturing and assembly constraints.

• Execute assembly and test routings on development models and early flight units.

• Process justification: preparation and maintenance of industrial justification documents (inspection rationale, validation plans, compliance to space standards).

• Test plan definition & execution: elaboration of qualification, acceptance, and test plans with design team, coordination of their execution, and joint analysis of results.

• Operational support: daily technical assistance to technicians and operators for assembly and testing.

• Quality & flight compliance: high-precision dimensional control (with internal support from the team), adherence to cleanliness requirements, and management of non-conformities.

• Qualification & flight campaigns: support to environmental testing (vibration, shock, thermal, endurance) for flight readiness.

• Report writing when necessary after operations and tests

Profile

• Engineering degree (or equivalent) in precision mechanics, mechatronics, instrumentation, or aerospace.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in AIT, fluidic/valve test benches, precision mechanics, or process industrialization.

• Knowledge of control/automation (PID) and ideally LabVIEW programming.

• Strong awareness of passivation, cleanliness, inspection, and flight-quality requirements.

• Ability to define and execute test plans in collaboration with the design team.

• Rigorous, autonomous, hands-on, with a strong operational mindset.

• Professional English (spoken and written).

What we offer

• Direct involvement in building critical flight hardware capability (propulsion valves).

• Daily collaboration with design, manufacturing, and testing teams in an international environment.

• Start-up industrial setting with high autonomy and diverse responsibilities.

• Position based in Bordeaux, France, with occasional travel.

If you want to work on critical flight systems where precision mechanics, test benches, passivation, cleanliness, and flight-quality justification make the difference between mission success and failure, join us!

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.