Storm Test Bench Principal Engineer (Cryogenic Propulsion)

Location: Bordeaux, France. Relocation assistance is provided for candidates willing to relocate, including visa sponsorship where applicable.

Company

The Exploration Company develops, produces, and operates Nyx, a modular and reusable orbital spacecraft designed to carry cargo and potentially humans.

What you will do

• Provide technical leadership for the development of the Storm cryogenic propulsion test bench for 2.5MN-class engines.
• Define development plans, technical execution strategy, system requirements alignment, verification objectives, and programme milestones.
• Lead investigations into test anomalies, hardware issues, instrumentation problems, and system performance deviations, including root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and retesting.
• Coordinate complex cryogenic propulsion test campaigns from preparation through execution and final reporting.
• Plan test schedules, resources, facility usage, milestones, and risk mitigation activities.
• Coach and guide technical teams while promoting disciplined execution, continuous improvement, and strong safety practices.

Requirements

• Degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, propulsion engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in spacecraft, launch vehicles, aircraft, industrial gas, energy, or another relevant high-technology environment.
• Experience testing cryogenic propulsion systems and working with cryogenic, liquid-propulsion, pressurised, fluid, or related test systems.
• Experience leading engineering teams and coordinating multidisciplinary technical activities.
• Experience planning and executing complex test campaigns from preparation through final reporting.
• Ability to lead technical investigations and resolve test anomalies using structured problem-solving methods.
• Experience with test facilities, ground support equipment, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Capacity to travel to test sites and partner facilities as required.
• Fluent professional English required. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to have

• French language skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Agile environment with fast decision-making aligned with programme goals and systems.
• Open and collaborative culture focused on transparency about risks and obstacles.
• Opportunity to contribute to the development of reusable spacecraft and the democratisation of space.
• Relocation assistance, including visa sponsorship where applicable.
• Employment offers are contingent on a country-, role-, and project-dependent background check.

Hiring process

• Submit a CV for immediate consideration.
• Any employment offer is conditional upon successful completion of the applicable background check.