Principal TPS Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Principal TPS Engineer (Aerospace): Leading the definition, development, and delivery of the Thermal Protection System for the Nyx modular reusable orbital vehicle with an accent on TPS architecture, hardware qualification, and verification strategies. Focus on managing technical risks, driving modeling and analysis activities, and establishing the TPS laboratory environment.

Location: Bordeaux, France. Relocation assistance and visa sponsorship provided.

Company

Developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle designed for cargo and potentially human transport.

What you will do

• Own TPS architecture and design, ensuring consistency with system-level constraints and interfaces.
• Lead technical trade-offs balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Drive modeling and analysis activities, ensuring high-quality predictions and correlation with test results.
• Oversee TPS hardware development and qualification, including supplier interaction and flight model delivery.
• Establish and execute verification and test strategies from component level to integrated system validation.
• Lead and mentor the TPS engineering unit and manage the laboratory environment's capabilities and workflows.

Requirements

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in the development of space or defense thermal protection systems.
• Strong background in material response analysis, testing, and correlation methodologies.
• Expertise in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics principles.
• Proven experience leading space hardware development and qualification.
• Fluent English proficiency required.

Nice to have

• Experience in aerodynamic and aerothermal analysis.
• Proficiency in German, French, or Italian.
• Familiarity with space industry standards.

Culture & Benefits

• Agile environment with fast decision-making processes.
• Open and collaborative culture with transparency regarding risks and obstacles.
• Opportunity to contribute to the democratization of space.
• Relocation assistance including visa sponsorship where applicable.