Turbopump AIT Engineer

About the role

The Exploration Company is developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle designed for eventual in-orbit refuelling and capable of carrying cargo and, in the longer term, humans. As a Turbopump AIT Engineer, you will own the development, qualification, and execution of test strategies for our Storm and Typhoon engine turbopumps, ensuring they meet the required technical maturity and readiness levels. You will design, develop, and validate the test assemblies and dedicated tooling that enable safe and effective subcomponent and component-level testing. You will lead the high-precision mechanical assembly of turbopump hardware, including bearings, rotors, stators, and seals, applying controlled torque and maintaining full traceability. You will manage all fluid interfaces and instrumentation on test articles, covering propellants, cooling, purge, and lubrication, and support integration at both turbopump and engine levels. This role will act as a key technical interface with design engineering teams, providing feedback to optimize designs for manufacturability, assembly, integration, and testability. You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams and external partners, including development engineers, AIT engineers and technicians, suppliers, and test facility operators, throughout the entire test campaign lifecycle.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and implement subcomponent test strategies to ensure the appropriate level of technical maturity and readiness prior to turbopump and engine-level testing.

Design, develop, and validate test assemblies and dedicated tooling required to execute subcomponent and component-level tests effectively and safely.

Prepare and execute assembly procedures for turbopump test articles and flight hardware, including inspection plans, propellant compatibility verification, cleanliness, FOD control requirements and design of specific means.

Lead high-precision mechanical assembly of turbopump hardware, including bearings, rotors, stators, and seals, with controlled torque application and full traceability.

Manage fluid interfaces and instrumentation on test articles (propellants, cooling, purge, lubrication), and provide technical inputs to support integration at turbopump and engine levels.

Support test preparation and execution activities in close collaboration with test bench teams, ensuring smooth operations both at internal and external test facilities.

Act as a technical interface with design engineering teams, providing feedback to optimize designs for manufacturability, assembly, integration, and testability (MAIT).

Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams and external partners, including development engineers, AIT engineers and technicians, suppliers, and test facility operators, throughout the full test campaign lifecycle.

Perform detailed analysis of test data to identify anomalies and drive corrective actions, ensuring that test objectives are met efficiently and safely.

Contribute to the qualification and acceptance of turbopump hardware by verifying compliance with predefined requirements and test objectives.

Develop and maintain comprehensive test documentation, including procedures, reports, and logs, to ensure traceability and knowledge retention.

Support the development of test automation and data acquisition systems to improve the efficiency and repeatability of test campaigns.

Assist in the resolution of non-conformances by performing root cause analysis and recommending corrective and preventive actions in coordination with engineering teams.

Promote safety and quality culture by adhering to strict procedures, standards, and best practices during all phases of assembly, integration, and testing.

Requirements

Bachelor's, master's or PhD in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field (master's and above preferred).

2+ years of experience in turbopump design, testing, or closely related fields (Engineer II).

Hands-on experience with pump or rotating machinery testing (or equivalent experimental work).

Exposure to dynamic seals and high-duty bearings is a strong plus.

Exposure to manufacturing processes (e.g. machining, welding, additive manufacturing, surface treatments, inspections) and their impact on tolerances and performance is highly valued.

Solid understanding of cryogenics, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics.

Familiarity with rocket propulsion and thermophysical property tools (e.g. CEA, CoolProp, RefProp).

Experience or interest in statistical analysis and data-driven methods (e.g. surrogate models, Bayesian approaches) is a plus.

Solution-oriented mindset, with the creativity and curiosity to tackle complex technical challenges.

Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

Willingness to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where priorities may shift frequently.

Commitment to maintaining detailed records and following rigorous documentation practices.

Ability to work independently and as part of a distributed, multidisciplinary team.

Adherence to The Exploration Company's standards for safety, quality, and compliance.

Practical notes

Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible.

If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.