Future Projects Aerothermal Engineer

Future Projects Aerothermal Engineer

The Exploration Company

Bordeaux, France

Our Future Projects unit is dedicated to expanding and complementing these capabilities by conceptualizing and pre-developing new technologies, products and programs.

We want you as a talented aerothermal engineer to help us in our mission by evaluating and optimizing the aerodynamic performance, determining mechanical and thermal loads, sizing and designing thermal protection systems of our vehicles, especially during atmospheric re-entry, but also during ascent.

You will work closely with our mechanical, CAD and system engineers to optimize together the vehicle design and performances. You will be part of the Launch Systems Team within the Future Systems Department, and will report to the Principal Engineer of the project and the Future Systems Lead.

Key Responsibilities

As an aerothermal engineer, your role will be continuously evolving, but day-to-day your duties will include:

• Conducting aerodynamic analyses and simulations to assess vehicle stability;
• Developing and refining computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models to predict aerodynamic forces, heating rates, and thermal loads;
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary project teams to integrate aerodynamic and aerothermal requirements into system architectures and designs;
• Designing and optimizing thermal protection systems (TPS) to manage heat flux and maintain structural integrity during re-entry;
• Performing sensitivity analyses and trade studies to evaluate the impact of design variables on re-entry performance;
• Supporting the commercial and program teams in writing and negotiating proposals for future projects related to aerothermal and thermal protection aspects;
• Ownership of future project contract work packages, including activity planning, supplier and subcontractor management and reporting to project management.

What we would love to see from you

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MSc) in aerospace engineering, heat transfer and fluid mechanics, or another related field;
• 3+ years proven working experience in aerodynamic and aerothermal analysis, especially in spacecraft reentry contexts;
• Experience with programming (Python, Fortran, Matlab...);
• Knowledge on material response analysis is strongly appreciated;
• Experience with CFD tools such as OpenFOAM, ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, TAU, or similar;
• Experience with DSMC tools such as OpenFoam, Sparta, or similar;
• Experience with mission analysis tools such as ASTOS or similar is an asset;
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics principles;
• Familiarity with spacecraft systems and re-entry vehicle design concepts is highly desirable;
• Fluent in English. German, French, and Italian are assets.

Skills and Behaviours

• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills;
• Strong organizing and prioritization of tasks;
• Working with high independency, but high alignment within a team;
• Positive and flexible attitude to get the job done;
• Demonstrates behaviors consistent with The Exploration Company’s core values of Vision, Competence, Integrity, and Passion.

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