Propulsion Test Team Leader

Darwin Recruitment are currently hiring for a Propulsion Test Team Leader in Toulouse.

Reporting to the Chief Product Officer, you will be responsible for the design of the companies rocket engine, the preparation of future performance improvements of this engine, and the development of new concepts to bring the 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 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 key 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.

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.
* 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.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

James Godfrey