Chemical Propulsion Engineer

5w1 month ago

European Space Agency - ESA

NL · Full-time · €70,000 – €95,000

About this role

This role is within the Chemical Propulsion Section of the Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering Division at ESA's ESTEC facility in Noordwijk, Netherlands. You will provide expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes, and studies in chemical propulsion across all project phases.

Your day-to-day work involves participating in feasibility studies, project reviews, and evaluating procurement proposals. You will identify critical development problems and assist in their resolution, while also defining, initiating, and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs.

You will collaborate closely with ESA's industrial stakeholders on chemical propulsion R&D, including systems using liquid, solid, hybrid, and gaseous propellants for spacecraft and space transportation vehicles. The Section also supports advanced propulsion concepts such as air-breathing engines for launch vehicles and nuclear propulsion for deep space missions.

This position offers the opportunity to shape technology development roadmaps and foster innovative, multidisciplinary activities. You will contribute to knowledge transfer across the Agency and help maintain ESA's state-of-the-art expertise in chemical propulsion.

Requirements

General background in one or more technical domains: advanced propulsion concepts; storable and/or cryogenic propulsion systems; fluid and mechanical ground support equipment relating to chemical propulsion; in-space refilling systems; and air-breathing chemical propulsion systems
Relevant experience in spacecraft and/or launcher propulsion systems
Project support experience in chemical propulsion
Experience in the preparation of procurement activities for technology development and innovation, including technology roadmap definition, statements of work, and proposal evaluation
Experience in the management and monitoring of industrial activities, including participation in reviews
Experience with Space Engineering Standards and their preparation and implementation
Experience in the manufacturing and testing of spacecraft and/or launcher propulsion systems and components

Responsibilities

Providing expert technical support and consultancy to ESA projects, programmes, and general studies in chemical propulsion throughout all project phases
Participating in feasibility studies, project reviews, and the evaluation of procurement proposals
Identifying critical development problems and assisting in their resolution
Contributing to the definition of technology development requirements and work plans for the Agency's technology programmes
Defining, initiating, and managing R&D activities covering both long- and short-term needs
Fostering new application areas for multidisciplinary activities, with an emphasis on innovative concepts, cutting-edge technologies, and system architectures
Supporting chemical propulsion laboratory activities as required
Monitoring applicable scientific and technological trends and maintaining state-of-the-art expertise

Benefits

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge space propulsion R&D at a leading European space agency
Access to ESA's state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and technical resources
Collaboration with top-tier industrial stakeholders across Europe
Contribution to defining technology development roadmaps for future space missions