Turbomachinery Fluidic Design Engineer

About Pangea Propulsion

We are a company dedicated to developing advanced propulsion systems for the space industry based on three key principles: high efficiency, sustainability, and reusability. We are revolutionizing the space industry with ground-breaking innovations that allow us to offer the best performance to cost propulsion systems.

Our goal is to be the propulsion provider for the next generation of spacecraft, which is essential to meet demands and compete in the booming space market of the next decade.

We are a passionate, multicultural, and multidisciplinary team pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space propulsion technology.

We have already made history by successfully testing the world's first 3D-printed Methalox Aerospike engine, marking a significant milestone for the space industry.

We are looking for talented professionals to join our international teams in Barcelona and Toulouse. We want to be a key player in improving diversity in the Aerospace sector as, in Pangea, we believe that diversity (gender, age, race, sexual orientation, beliefs, disability, culture, etc.) is a key to success. Within Pangea, everyone can grow with the same opportunities. We encourage you to apply. Individually we are different, but together we are an amazing team!

We are looking for a Turbomachinery Fluidic Design Engineer in Barcelona or Toulouse.

About the role

We are seeking a Turbomachinery Fluid Dynamics Engineer to join our Fluidics Department in Barcelona . You will contribute to the design , analysis , and optimization of rocket turbopumps , turbines , and secondary flow systems for current and next‑generation propulsion systems, including Pangea’s flagship Aerospike engine .

You will own the fluidic development and validation of components operating under extreme cryogenic, thermal, and rotational environments, leveraging advanced simulation methods and modern manufacturing techniques. The role demands ownership, technical leadership, creativity, and autonomy, with close collaboration across mechanical design, test, controls, and systems engineering to deliver turbomachinery that meets stringent mission requirements.

You may act as the responsible fluid‑dynamics engineer for one or more of the following subsystems:

· Cryogenic turbopump hydraulic design and performance prediction

· Impulse and reaction turbine aerodynamic design and optimization (including supersonic blade rows)

· Secondary flow systems and flow networks (cooling, sealing, purge)

· Off‑design and transient behavior of turbomachinery within the propulsion cycle

· Test campaigns: pre‑test predictions (CFD/performance), analysis of results, and resolution of discrepancies vs. predictions

· Non‑conformance investigations and performance assessments (NCRs)

Key Responsibilities

· Design and optimize pump hydrodynamics and turbine aerodynamics (including supersonic stages) and secondary‑flow interactions.

· Perform CFD analyses for pumps and turbines, including steady, transient, cavitation, and multiphase modeling.

· Develop and maintain numerical methods, in‑house tools, and preliminary design codes for turbomachinery fluid‑dynamic design.

· Investigate off‑design performance, dynamic stability, and fluid‑structure/cycle coupling (e.g., start transients, NPSH margins, surge/choke, choked flow).

· Correlate simulation and test data to validate models and improve predictive capability; drive design iterations.

· Produce technical documentation, participate in design reviews, and generate performance assessments.

· Collaborate with mechanical and test engineering to ensure integrated system performance and manufacturability.

· Support the definition, instrumentation strategy, and execution of component and turbopump test campaigns.

What you need to be successful

· Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and turbomachinery principles.

· Experience with CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Fluent/CFX, Cadence Fine/Turbo, OpenFOAM).

· Familiarity with numerical modeling, scripting, and data processing (Python, MATLAB, or similar).

· Ability to interpret and correlate experimental turbomachinery data.

· Fluency in English (written and spoken).

· Solid communication skills and effectiveness in multidisciplinary engineering environments.

Soft Skills

· Strong analytical thinking and problem‑solving.

· Proactive ownership and autonomy under tight schedules.

· Creativity and curiosity about advanced propulsion technologies.

· Excellent teamwork and clear, concise communication..

Other desired skills

· MSc or higher in Mechanical Engineering , Aerospace Engineering , or a closely related field.

· Completion of a specialized turbopump course (highly valued).

· Hands‑on experience in turbomachinery design, CFD, test analysis, or performance evaluation.

· Experience in rocket turbomachinery, high‑speed turbopumps, turbine aerodynamics, or adjacent industries (aerospace, energy, cryogenics).

· Working knowledge of performance maps and steady/transient operating conditions (e.g., startup/shutdown transients, surge/choke margins, NPSH).

· Familiarity with turbomachinery loss models and performance correlations (e.g., Denton, Aungier) and Balje charts for preliminary sizing/selection.

· Proficiency with finite‑volume solvers and mesh generation (structured/unstructured, boundary‑layer resolution, y⁺ control, grid convergence).

· Understanding of cavitation and inducer flow physics (head breakdown, cavitation compliance, blade‑tip effects).

· Awareness of rotordynamics–fluid interaction (e.g., cross‑coupled stiffness, swirl brakes, seal flows).

· Nice to have: exposure to preliminary design tools (e.g., CFturbo, AxSTREAM), adjoint/DoE optimization, and Verification & Validation best practices).

Not hitting every requirement? Research suggests that some people tend to hesitate when it comes to job applications if they don't meet all the desired qualifications. Here at Pangea Propulsion, we're committed to fostering a workplace that values diversity, inclusivity, and authenticity. So, if you're enthusiastic about this role but your prior experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification mentioned in the job description, we still strongly encourage you to apply. You might just be the ideal candidate for this position or other opportunities within our organization.

More about us…

We are an international and very multicultural team. Our work is guided by these core values:

· Teamwork, because we strive in working together as an aligned team towards our common goals.

· Respect & tolerance: we value people with integrity that treat other people with respect. We enjoy having diverse views to enrich the debate and take better decisions.

· Passion for growth: we are passionate about space and about being pioneers; also, we value personal and organizational growth aiming to a constant improvement.

· Sustainability: because a long-term vision and strategy is not possible if sustainability is not in the team’s core values.

· Daring: we do things that sometimes seem impossible, but we always go the extra mile to find a path to do them and we are ready to take the necessary risks to achieve our goals.

If this sounds good to you and you want to join the New Space revolution, we really want to meet you!