[Nyx Earth] Senior Propulsion Structural Engineer Verified today

About Nyx

The Exploration Company is developing Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle designed to be refuelled in orbit and carry cargo, with potential for human missions.

Your Role

You will be responsible for the design, justification, testing and validation of the mechanical structure of the propulsion system and its interfaces with the primary structure.

Structural Analysis and Technical Ownership

• Review static and dynamic load inputs, material properties, test data, and component requirements to set up structural analysis cases
• Produce stress and fatigue analysis results with detailed validation methodologies and rigorous justification of structural margins, applying standards including fracture control required for NASA certification
• Assess integration of off-the-shelf equipment to the propulsion system within the overall system, considering qualified loads
• Own structural substantiation of propulsion components from concept through qualification, ensuring traceability between requirements, analysis, and test

Design Collaboration and Mechanical Development

• Work closely with design engineers to validate mechanical sizing and iterate designs efficiently
• Design simple mechanical components from scratch and propose structural solutions, drawing on analysis results and hands-on experience
• Support trade studies on structural architecture, materials, and joint design for propulsion structures and brackets

Test Campaign Development and Support

• Develop and support hardware test campaigns (coupon or sub-assembly testing) to gather analysis inputs or validation data
• Define test objectives and success criteria in coordination with test engineering, and correlate test results back into analysis models
• Identify appropriate test platforms and instrumentation needs for structural verification
• Support non-conformities analyses and resolution

Anomaly Investigation and Non-Conformance Management

• Act as a key contributor to anomaly investigations, performing root cause analyses on structural damage or unexpected test or flight behaviour
• Justify non-conformities against structural requirements and support disposition decisions with sound engineering rationale
• Feed lessons learned from anomalies back into design standards and analysis practices

What You Bring

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in structural analysis for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or space capsules, ideally with exposure to liquid propulsion structures and systems
• Strong command of FEA tools (NASTRAN or equivalent) complemented by solid hand-calculation skills for static and dynamic load cases (vibration, shock, fatigue)
• Familiarity with structural certification standards and processes (NASA-STD-5001, ECSS, or equivalent), and experience producing analysis reports that hold up under formal review
• Working knowledge of CAD environments (CATIA, NX, or equivalent), sufficient to review, sketch, and propose mechanical design changes
• Experience supporting or running test campaigns, from test definition through correlation of results with predictions
• Track record of contributing to anomaly investigations or non-conformance dispositions in a hardware-delivery environment
• Hands-on approach to problem-solving combined with collaborative mindset across multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to multitask
• Capability to work autonomously whilst collaborating with remote teams
• Positive and flexible attitude in a constantly evolving environment
• Effective communication with a wide variety of audiences

Location

Bordeaux, France. You may be required to travel from time to time to the company's premises in Munich.