Autophage propulsion engineer

Overview

By joining Alpha Impulsion as a propulsion engineer in the Toulouse office, you will play a key role in the development of AMBER, Alpha Impulsion's small scale autophage demonstrator for suborbital flight and in-space propulsion.

Reporting to the Chief Product Officer, you will be responsible for the design of the autophage rocket engine, the preparation of future performance improvements of this engine, and the development of new concepts to bring the autophage launcher to life, including scale-up to full scale.

Your mission defines transverse technological development related to the full engine. You will optimise the system architecture and elevate autophage propulsion toward flight performance. You will drive propulsive test definition, build a unique rocket engine, and start the company's journey in full-scale launcher development.

Your first project here

Alpha Impulsion is finalising the development of a small scale engine for the first autophage experimental rocket as part of a major French national contract. Its goal is to derisk at small scale technologies to be used in the future GARNET engine for launch vehicles. The results of this activity might change the way mini-launchers are built, demonstrating performance up to twice that of current propulsion technologies. You will embark on a young project, with the opportunity to build it from start to to qualification and exploitation.

Your key responsibilities

As part of your missions, you will be entrusted with the following responsibilities:

• Co-lead the design of Alpha Impulsion’s newest engine iterations, from a functional model to the high-performance configuration, progressively implementing features and sub-systems for performance improvements and representativity.

• Build and improve thermo-mechanical behaviour models to predict operating regimes and identify critical areas, backing this work with flow heat transfer analysis and CFD.

• Collaborate closely with leading research organisations such as CIRA, ONERA (FR), and DLR (DE) for the modelling and prediction of combustion regimes found in hybrid rocket engines, at the forefront of research in this field.

• Conduct longer-term studies on High Test Peroxide storage, turbomachinery and systems design to scale-up the technology.

• Conduct sensitivity analyses on key design features of the autophage architecture and define test configurations to advance performance modelling verification.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams (systems, materials, mechanics, propulsion) in both offices (IT and FR) to integrate your results into product design.

What we would appreciate most

Experience:

• At least three years of experience, ideally on similar projects.

• Experience in the analysis of a rocket engine behaviours.

• Experience with both a startup/agile environment and a system development project.

Education:

• Master's degree in Aerospace or equivalent.

Skills:

• Applied knowledge of thermal, mechanical and thermo-mechanical analyses. Deep understanding of thermal solutions for rocket engines (regenerative cooling, ablative, etc.) is expected.

• Understanding of rocket engine behaviours (instabilities, coupling) at system's level. Specific knowledge and experience in cryogenics (LOX), turbomachinery, High Test Peroxide handling, or hybrid propulsion will be highly appreciated.

• Knowledge of FEM methods (SimCenter) and/or CFD (StarCCM+).

• Experience in testing and measurement methods used for rocket propulsion.

• Sensitivity to safety processes applied to space propulsion.

• Analytical skills, scientific rigor, and ability to report in traceable technical documentation.

• Comfortable with project management and Agile frameworks.

• Professional English required. Italian and/or French appreciated.

Why you should join us

Why we think you will enjoy working with us, what makes Alpha Impulsion unique:

• We are building something that does not exist. No amount of technical experience can answer all questions. When tests and feedback are the only path forward, you will find new approaches and define the future of propulsion technology.

• Your work is your own. Each member owns designs and ideas, we all take chances. You are the one to solve the problem, because it’s yours to begin with. You have a significant input in all aspects of your mission, from concept to design to method to test and lessons learned.

• We have a driving mission. It keeps us strong and united. “Clean and personalised access to space for everyone” is, for sure, the tenth time today that you read an attempt to say “democratising space” elegantly. Our difference: we are making a technological bet to halve environmental impacts of propulsion and divide by six its cost, while preventing orbital debris at the source. Not convinced? Look for our conference papers.

Compensation

Base salary negotiable based on experience. Additionally, we offer a competitive compensation package including meal vouchers and additional benefits to be discussed.

If you thrive on challenge, take on a new one and join the crew.