---
title: 'Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer at The Exploration Company'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-ait-principal-engineer-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-m80g1zy0ym11'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer at The Exploration Company

- **Company:** [The Exploration Company](https://feeny.ai/companies/the-exploration-company)
- **Location:** Bordeaux, France
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-09-30
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/the-exploration-company/bf6776b7-ecc7-4333-8bf7-a8f1e6ae4175

## Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity.

We are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refueled in orbit, and which carries cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run. We are seeking an experienced and talented Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer, to lead the Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) activities for two cryogenic propulsion systems. Each system is supported by a dedicated AIT team. This is a key leadership role that requires technical expertise in liquid-propellant propulsion systems, a strong track record in managing complex engineering projects, and proven experience in leading and mentoring technical teams. As the Propulsion AIT Principal Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring safe, efficient and technically rigorous execution of propulsion AIT activities from hardware readiness through system-level testing and delivery, provide technical direction across both teams, coordinate priorities and resources, resolve complex technical issues, and ensure that the propulsion systems meet their performance, quality, schedule and safety objectives. This role combines technical leadership, people leadership and hands-on involvement in the preparation and execution of complex cryogenic propulsion test campaigns.

Key Responsibilities:

- Provide overall technical leadership for the AIT activities of cryogenic propulsion systems
- Define and maintain the AIT approach, philosophy, plans and technical execution strategy
- Ensure that AIT activities are aligned with system requirements, design intent, verification objectives and programme milestones
- Review and approve AIT procedures, test specifications, test plans, test reports, non-conformance dispositions and engineering change documentation
- Lead the technical assessment and resolution of complex AIT problems, including test anomalies, hardware issues, instrumentation problems and system performance deviations
- Oversee the preparation, integration, functional testing and acceptance activities for the propulsion systems
- Coordinate the investigation of anomalies and ensure that root-cause analysis, corrective actions and retest activities are properly managed
- Ensure that all AIT activities are performed in accordance with applicable safety rules, operational constraints and approved procedures
- Lead and support the propulsion AIT Team Leaders, ensuring clear priorities, ownership and effective communication
- Balance resources and priorities across all propulsion systems according to programme needs and test criticality
- Support the development of the teams through coaching, technical guidance and constructive feedback
- Build a culture of ownership, disciplined execution, continuous improvement and learning from experience
- Contribute to integrated project planning, including AIT schedules, resource requirements, facility usage and major test milestones
- Identify technical, operational and schedule risks related to AIT activities and ensure that mitigation actions are defined and tracked
- Ensure compliance with company processes and applicable regulatory requirements for propulsion AIT activities
- Promote a strong safety culture, particularly for activities involving cryogenic fluids, high pressure, hazardous energy and propulsion test operations
- Support quality investigations, audits, non-conformance management and corrective and preventive actions

Required Qualifications & Skills

- Degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, propulsion engineering or a related technical discipline
- Proven professional experience (5+ years) in spacecraft, launch vehicle, aircraft, industrial gas, energy or another relevant high-technology environment
- Strong experience in Assembly, Integration and Test, ideally involving propulsion systems or other complex fluid and pressure systems
- Proven experience leading engineering teams and coordinating multidisciplinary technical activities
- Experience with cryogenic systems, liquid propulsion, pressurised systems, fluid systems or related test operations
- Experience planning and executing complex test campaigns from test preparation through final reporting
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical investigations and resolve test anomalies using structured problem-solving methods.
- Strong understanding of configuration management, verification and validation, requirements compliance and technical documentation
- Experience working with test facilities, ground support equipment, instrumentation and data acquisition systems
- Capacity to travel to test sites and partner facilities as required
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Fluent professional English. French will be an advantage

Why you should join us! What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:

- We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind
- We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them
- We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly.

The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. 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.

## About The Exploration Company

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: The Exploration Company (TEC) is building a full-stack space transportation platform, including a reusable space capsule (Nyx) and a high-thrust rocket engine (Storm), to democratize access to space.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B)
- **Headquarters**: Munich, Germany (HQ); additional offices in Bordeaux (France), Luxembourg, Turin (Italy), Houston (Texas, USA), and Dubai/Abu Dhabi (UAE)
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Hélène Huby (CEO) and a team of aerospace veterans

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Space transportation, aerospace engineering, orbital logistics
- **Target customers**: Space station operators, satellite operators, government space agencies (e.g., NASA), commercial space companies (B2B, B2G)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To build space vehicles for humanity, enabling everyone to participate peacefully in the building of our human future." [exploration.space](https://exploration.space/about)

## Products & Services
- **Nyx**: A reusable space capsule designed to dock with any space station, capable of carrying cargo (and eventually crew) to low-Earth orbit. It is the company’s first commercial vehicle.
- **Storm**: A high-thrust, staged-combustion rocket engine delivering up to 180 tons of thrust, designed to power a globally competitive, reusable launcher.
- **Mission Bikini**: A first demonstrator capsule built for ballistic reentry, completed from paper sketch to flight-ready in nine months.
- **Mission Possible**: A second demonstrator capsule built for controlled re-entry and recovery with cargo, completed in two years.
- **Orbital Propulsion**: In-house development of avionics, flight software, guidance/navigation/control (GNC), and reusable thrusters.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Total Funding**: $210.06M (Series B, with a $160M round raised approximately two years ago) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/the-exploration-company)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Backed by tier-one investors; first European company to sign a Space Act Agreement with NASA; board includes figures like Mike Griffin (former NASA Administrator) and Yo-Yo Ma (cellist and board advisor) [exploration.space](https://exploration.space/about)
- **Growth Signals**: 10 missions already booked; two demonstrator capsules built in under three years; team of 450+ employees spanning 35 nationalities; offices in 6 locations across Europe, the US, and the UAE; named one of the fastest-growing space companies worldwide.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Speed of execution**: Demonstrated ability to go from concept to flight-ready hardware in 9–24 months, far faster than traditional aerospace.
- **Reusability focus**: Both Nyx and Storm are designed for rapid reuse, dramatically lowering per-mission costs.
- **Open-source vehicle design**: TEC’s approach is intentionally collaborative, fostering partnerships across countries and with NASA.
- **Full-stack capability**: Controls the entire space transportation stack (capsule, engine, avionics, software), reducing dependency on external suppliers.
- **European base with global reach**: Positioned as a key European player in the new space economy, with strong government and commercial ties.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercial cargo missions**: First priority is launching Nyx to serve low-Earth orbit space stations (both public and private).
- **Engine development**: Continuing work on Storm to power a future European launcher.
- **International expansion**: Deepening presence in the US (Houston office) and UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi office).
- **Talent scaling**: Growing the team from 450+ to meet mission milestones, with a focus on engineering, production, and digital roles.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes speed, execution, and ownership. Values include Excellence, Teamwork, Integrity, and "Space for everyone." The company prides itself on gathering diverse, international talent from both space and non-space backgrounds.
- **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Offers flexibility and remote work opportunities depending on the role, but encourages a hybrid approach where possible. [exploration.space](https://www.exploration.space/careers)
- **Relocation Support**: Yes, the company provides relocation assistance and work permit/visa support for new hires.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge space vehicles from day one; internal mobility encouraged; background check required for all offers.
- **Engineering Culture**: Leadership includes aerospace veterans who have worked on major global space programs. The team is 450+ strong, representing 35 nationalities, with a flat, fast-moving structure.

## Sources
1. [exploration.space - Home](https://exploration.space/)
2. [exploration.space - About](https://exploration.space/about)
3. [exploration.space - Careers](https://www.exploration.space/careers)
4. [cbinsights.com - The Exploration Company](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/the-exploration-company)
5. [Wikipedia - The Exploration Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exploration_Company)

## Other roles at The Exploration Company

- [Propulsion Engineer - Huracan Components](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-engineer-huracan-components-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-hm7d92nm0je9) — Bordeaux, France
- [HIL Engineer — Huracan Rocket Engine](https://feeny.ai/job/hil-engineer-huracan-rocket-engine-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-emhstqpnghzd) — Bordeaux, France
- [Intern- Office & Site Management](https://feeny.ai/job/intern-office-site-management-the-exploration-company-munich-0804jw3gzwpp) — Munich, Germany
- [Lead European Institutions and French Public Affairs](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-european-institutions-and-french-public-affairs-the-exploration-company-f5qg5721tw4a) — France
- [Project Security Officer](https://feeny.ai/job/project-security-officer-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-xzdts7mgjyqe) — Bordeaux, France
- [Deputy Flight Software Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/deputy-flight-software-lead-the-exploration-company-munich-bs353xwvzqjx) — Munich, Germany
- [Lead Procurement In-House Engine development](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-procurement-in-house-engine-development-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-dmwhg1x0e1ns) — Bordeaux, France
- [Lead Project Manager Dual Use In-Orbit Services](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-project-manager-dual-use-in-orbit-services-the-exploration-company-munich-14vx6hjewz7z) — Munich, Germany
- [Lead Supply Chain](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-supply-chain-the-exploration-company-munich-ghy6tyn015aq) — Munich, Germany
- [Propulsion Data & Modeling Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-data-modeling-engineer-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-zpbm7wfw8vtq) — Bordeaux, France