--- title: 'TCS and ECLSS Certification Engineer at The Exploration Company' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/tcs-and-eclss-certification-engineer-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-rqv9dzq7gzfa' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-06' --- # TCS and ECLSS Certification Engineer at The Exploration Company - **Company:** [The Exploration Company](https://feeny.ai/companies/the-exploration-company) - **Location:** Bordeaux, France - **Employment:** full-time - **Posted:** 2026-11-04 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-06 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/the-exploration-company/7210aee3-b0c7-4c31-a52d-02645fc6625a ## Job description Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity. Mission We are developing, manufacturing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable spacecraft which will carry cargo to space stations and potentially humans in the longer run. We are seeking an experienced Certification Engineer to join our Thermal Control System & Environmental Control and Life Support System team. You will be responsible for leading, coordinating, and driving the certification and verification closure activities of the Nyx Thermal Control System (TCS) and Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) in support of vehicle qualification, NASA certification, and flight acceptance. The role serves as the primary focal point between the TCS & ECLSS teams, System Engineering, Verification & Validation, Chief Engineering Office, AIT, Program, Safety Engineering, and external stakeholders. The Certification Engineer ensures that TCS and ECLSS requirements are properly allocated, verified, traceable, and closed with appropriate evidence, while maintaining alignment with NASA SSP requirements, Data Item Deliverables (DIDs), verification plans, and Safety Review Panel expectations. The position requires a strong understanding of spacecraft systems engineering, thermal engineering, verification methodologies, qualification logic, and agency review processes to ensure that technical evidence across both subsystems is complete, credible, traceable, and accepted by the certification authorities. ## Key Responsibilities Lead Thermal & ECLSS Verification Closure Activities - Own the verification closure process for TCS and ECLSS, from subsystem level through spacecraft-level qualification. - Ensure TCS and ECLSS requirements are allocated to appropriate verification methods. - Coordinate the preparation, execution, and closure of verification events with analysts, product owners, subsystem engineers, system engineers, and test teams. - Maintain consistency between the TCS & ECLSS verification strategies and spacecraft-level verification planning. - Ensure analyses, test reports, inspection records, NCRs, requirement justifications, and review documentation are available to support certification closure. - Support the preparation of qualification, certification, and flight readiness reviews. - Ensure consistency of verification logic and evidence across TCS and ECLSS, particularly for requirements, interfaces, functions, or verification activities involving both subsystems. Manage NASA Requirement Compliance and Verification Product - Act as the TCS & ECLSS focal point for NASA certification and verification activities. - Coordinate the closure of applicable NASA SSP requirements and associated verification products, including the DIDs. - Ensure consistency between analyses, test results, requirements, qualification rationale, and certification documentation across both subsystems. - Maintain alignment between NASA verification expectations and TEC verification approaches. - Coordinate with TCS and ECLSS technical owners to ensure certification evidence is technically robust and delivered according to program and customer milestones. Lead Thermal & ECLSS Contributions to Safety Reviews - Prepare and coordinate TCS & ECLSS contributions to NASA Safety Reviews. - Ensure TCS and ECLSS hazards, controls, verification evidence, and closure rationale are fully documented. - Support and coordinate the development of safety review presentations and supporting technical packages. - Ensure consistency between hazard reports, verification evidence, and qualification activities. - Coordinate with Safety Engineering and subsystem technical owners to ensure certification evidence supporting hazard-control verification is identified and available. Support Qualification and Test Campaigns - Ensure qualification, acceptance, development, and integrated test campaigns provide the evidence required for certification. - Identify verification gaps early and drive mitigation actions. - Support preparation of verification plans, qualification matrices, and closure notices. - Participate in major test reviews and assess certification impacts of anomalies and non-conformances. - Support requirement closure from TVAC, Thermal Balance, functional testing, and integrated spacecraft verification campaigns. - Drive the closure of actions and verification-related NCRs Required Qualifications Technical - MSc or equivalent degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field. - Strong understanding of spacecraft thermal control system, ECLSS, and spacecraft development processes. - Experience with spacecraft verification and qualification methodologies. - Familiarity with NASA and/or ECSS verification standards, requirements management, verification matrices, and closure processes. - Understanding of thermal analyses, thermal testing, qualification logic, and evidence generation. ## Experience - 8+ years of experience in spacecraft development, system engineering, verification, certification, or thermal engineering. - Experience supporting spacecraft design reviews and qualification campaigns. - Experience interfacing with external customers, agencies, or certification authorities. - Experience managing complex technical documentation and evidence packages. Personal Skills - Strong organization, coordination, technical writing, and communication skills. - Ability to drive closure of multidisciplinary actions across engineering teams. - High level of rigor, traceability, and attention to detail. - Ability to challenge assumptions and ensure certification readiness. - Comfort presenting technical material to senior engineering leadership and external review boards. 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 - [Welding Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/welding-engineer-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-0kgzkww4cjpd) — Bordeaux, France - [Head of Electronics & software](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-electronics-software-the-exploration-company-munich-3yxtwzah13vy) — Munich, Germany - [Lead Commercial Sales](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-commercial-sales-the-exploration-company-munich-y0f88sgexmm6) — Munich, Germany - [Storm Test Bench Principal Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/storm-test-bench-principal-engineer-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-4kdfjx6tgmck) — Bordeaux, France - [IT Administrator](https://feeny.ai/job/it-administrator-the-exploration-company-turin-ntapn0kbmp7t) — Turin, Italy - [Non-Destructive Testing Technician – Level 2](https://feeny.ai/job/non-destructive-testing-technician-level-2-the-exploration-company-munich-xcyjx5zjyph0) — Munich, Germany - [Test Development Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/test-development-engineer-the-exploration-company-bordeaux-bbcfd95xqc33) — Bordeaux, France - [MAIT Electrical and Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mait-electrical-and-test-engineer-the-exploration-company-munich-hnt0tk61xr1s) — Munich, Germany - [Senior MAIT Electrical and Test Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mait-electrical-and-test-engineer-the-exploration-company-munich-zf5bjzcghhwf) — Munich, Germany - [AIT Electrical/Harness Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/ait-electrical-harness-technician-the-exploration-company-munich-28k0tjxxg8wf) — Munich, Germany