Propulsion Design & Test Engineer

Orbex are looking for a Propulsion Design and Test Engineer to join our team, a highly versatile position which will expose you to most facets of propulsion systems engineering. You will focus on Mechanical Design and development, carrying projects through to qualification testing. For this role experience with Turbomachinery would be particularly beneficial. 

 

Orbex 

Orbex is a leading micro-launch company with our Prime vehicle being prepared to launch from our home spaceport, Space Hub Sutherland. We are well placed to be one of the first operational micro-launch companies in Europe with over €85m of project financing secured, a number of customers signed up, our launch licence application submitted, and backing from organisations including UKSA and ESA. 

We are a rapidly growing company with staff located between our production and test facilities in Forres, Scotland and Copenhagen, Denmark. Working on cutting-edge advances in rocket fuel technology, Prime’s carbon footprint is up to 96% lower than comparable vehicles, leading to innovations in propulsion and tank structures. A state-of-the-art re-flight system means we can recover and reuse our technology, and innovations in separation mechanisms mean we leave no debris in space. 

Having developed in-house production capability, we can 3D print complex engines, produce full-scale carbon composite fuel tanks, and have avionics and software testing labs in both Scotland and Denmark. Based in Forres, you will be right in the heart of this fast-paced cutting-edge company, gaining a unique insight into what it takes to build a new launch vehicle for a buoyant commercial market. 

Orbex is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is working towards a more diverse workforce in the aerospace industry. 

The Position 

Your role will primarily focus on the preliminary and detailed mechanical design of our propulsion systems, working with analysis to iterate and improve our designs, you will have ownership of your products end to end, designing, inspecting, testing and iterating to get to optimised, flight-ready hardware. .   

The core duties and responsibilities of the Propulsion Design and Test Engineer role typically include: 

• Design, development and AIT activities on launch vehicle propulsion systems, e.g. main stage propulsion, turbo-machinery, ignition systems and RCS implementations. 
• Test facilities/equipment design, development, validation, operation and maintenance. 
• Test plans and procedures development. 
• Test procedure execution, data analysis and reporting. 
• Integrated systems testing support at DK/UK test facilities. 
• Propulsion systems physical modelling, hereunder CAD and CFD modellig in close collaboration with senior engineers. 
• Supplier liaison and Quality Assurance work on produced propulsion system components/parts including additively manufactured parts. 
• Assembly and operational procedures development supporting of propulsion systems AIT in collaboration with propulsion systems technicians. 
• Design and test documentation preparation and participation in design reviews. 

 

Qualifications and Experience 

• Expected proficiencies will include: 

• Highly experienced with SolidWorks, CATIA or similar CAD tool. 

• Experience of GD&T, Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Hand Calculations 

• Experience with FEM tools (e.g. ANSYS Mechanical, Fluent, Abaqus, OpenFOAM) 

• Orbex is manufacturing hardware, it would be extremely beneficial for you to have practical, hands-on experience testing and validating your designs against specific criteria rather than purely conceptual design.  

• Numerical analysis tool (e.g. Matlab/Simulink) proficiency would be beneficial but not essential. 

• MS Office tools, full proficiency expected 

• Strong communication skills in both written and spoken English 

Location 

This role is based in Copenhagen at Orbex’s Danish propulsion engineering and manufacturing site. 

You will be spending time both at the factory and our nearby rocket engine testing site, with occasional travel to our main factory, test and launch sites in Scotland. 

Copenhagen is one of Europe's most modern and aesthetically interesting cities. It is regarded as being one of the most livable cities in the world, with a strong reputation for being clean, green and sustainable. 

With a huge, active waterfront and a lively social scene, Copenhagen offers a wide range of social activities and leisure opportunities, all with a uniquely Scandinavian flair. Activities include cycling and sailing, and the centre of the city is famed for it's cultural highlights. 

Security 

You must be a UK or European citizen, from a country that is a signatory to the MTCR convention. You must be able to pass a basic security clearance. 

Benefits 

For the right candidate we offer an excellent benefits package that includes: 

• A competitive salary. 

• An equity stake in the company so you will really benefit from your hard work as the company grows and is successful.  

• Our roles need to be on-site in Denmark due to the nature of the work as well as export controls and security, we are happy to sponsor visas for you and your family and provide relocation assistance as required which included funding the move and your first month in temporary accommodation so that you can explore the beautiful city of Copenhagen before choosing a place to settle down.  

 

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