[Nyx Earth] Propulsion Design Office Principal

About the role

We are seeking an experienced professional to join our innovative team focused on the development of Nyx, a versatile and reusable orbital vehicle designed for both cargo transport and future human space missions. In this pivotal role, you will lead a dedicated propulsion design team, guiding technical decisions and ensuring the integrity of propulsion systems from initial concept through to qualification. Your expertise will be crucial in driving the design and analysis processes, managing system interfaces, and maintaining comprehensive documentation.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead and mentor a diverse team of engineers with expertise in thermal, structural, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and computer-aided design (CAD) to foster a collaborative work environment.
• Define project scopes, prioritize engineering tasks, and manage team workloads to ensure that program milestones are met efficiently.
• Conduct thorough design reviews, providing technical guidance while supporting the career development of team members.
• Make critical design decisions regarding propulsion feed systems, pressure systems, and structural integrity, ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Ensure that all designs maintain traceability to established requirements, adhering to mass, thermal, and safety standards throughout the development process.
• Collaborate closely with Systems Engineering and Vehicle Design teams to manage interfaces related to propulsion systems effectively.
• Oversee thermal analyses for propulsion components across all mission phases, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
• Review and validate thermal models, ensuring they are accurate and correlate with empirical test data to support design decisions.
• Guide the team in selecting appropriate test platforms and defining clear test objectives to validate system performance.
• Direct the mechanical design of propulsion structures, focusing on strength, stiffness, and fatigue life to ensure long-term reliability.
• Supervise finite element analysis (FEA) and hand calculations to verify structural margins and resolve any anomalies that arise.
• Work alongside the Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) team to define and validate integration sequences for propulsion systems.
• Establish and enforce standards for CAD usage, model maturity gates, and the processes for releasing engineering drawings.
• Maintain the engineering master model and Bill of Materials (BOM), ensuring they are up-to-date and accurately reflect the design.
• Ensure that all design documentation is completed, reviewed, and baselined in a timely manner to support project timelines.

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of practical experience in the design of propulsion systems for space vehicles, with a strong background in liquid propulsion systems.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to critically evaluate work across thermal, structural, and mechanical engineering domains.
• A successful track record in managing small to mid-sized engineering teams within a hardware delivery context.
• Experience in running or supervising thermal analysis using tools such as Thermal Desktop and ANSYS, as well as structural analysis with NASTRAN.
• Proficiency in CAD environments, particularly CATIA and NX, with a strong understanding of their applications in engineering design.
• Familiarity with managing complex system-level trades, interfaces, and conducting formal design reviews to ensure project success.

Nice to have

• Experience in the aerospace industry, particularly with reusable launch systems or orbital vehicles.
• Knowledge of propulsion system testing and validation processes.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards and compliance requirements in the aerospace sector.
• Previous experience in a startup or fast-paced environment, demonstrating adaptability and resourcefulness.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in Thermal Desktop, ANSYS, NASTRAN, CATIA, and NX.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a focus on innovative solutions.
• Excellent collaboration and organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work autonomously while adapting to changing project requirements.
• Strong communication skills to effectively convey technical information to diverse audiences.

Practical notes

We offer relocation assistance and visa sponsorship for the right candidate. All employment offers are subject to a successful background check conducted by Zinc Work Limited. Occasional travel to our Munich office may be necessary as part of the role. Join us in shaping the future of space exploration with Nyx!