Full-Time
Nyx Earth] Senior Propulsion Structural Engineer
The Exploration Company
201-500 employees
Orbital vehicle developer with open interfaces
Compensation Overview
€62k - €88k/yr
Bordeaux, France + 1 more
More locations: Munich, Germany
In Person
On-site in Bordeaux; occasional travel to Munich.
 Architecture & Civil Engineering (1) |
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 Aerospace Engineering (1) |
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- Review static and dynamic load inputs, material properties, test data, and component requirements to properly set up structural analysis cases.
- Produce stress and fatigue analysis results with detailed validation methodologies and rigorous justification of the propulsion system's structural margins, applying the standards (including fracture control) required for NASA certification.
- Assess the integration of of-the-shelf equipment to the propulsion system within the overall system considering their qualified loads
- Own the structural substantiation of propulsion components and structures from concept through qualification, ensuring traceability between requirements, analysis, and test.
- Work closely with design engineers to validate mechanical sizing and help them iterate through designs as efficiently as possible.
- Design simple mechanical components from scratch and propose creative structural solutions to design engineers, drawing on analysis results and hands-on experience.
- Support trade studies on structural architecture, materials, and joint design for propulsion structures and brackets.
- Develop and support hardware test campaigns — coupon or sub-assembly testing — to gather analysis inputs or validation data.
- Define test objectives and success criteria in coordination with test engineering, and correlate test results back into analysis models.
- Identify appropriate test platforms and instrumentation needs for structural verification.
- Support non-conformities analyses and resolve process
- Act as a key contributor to anomaly investigations, performing root cause analyses on structural damage or unexpected test/flight behavior.
- Justify non-conformities against structural requirements and support disposition decisions with sound engineering rationale.
- Feed lessons learned from anomalies back into design standards and analysis practices.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in structural analysis for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or space capsules, ideally with exposure to liquid propulsion structures and systems.
- Strong command of FEA tools (NASTRAN or equivalent) complemented by solid hand-calculation skills, for both static and dynamic (vibration, shock, fatigue) load cases.
- Familiarity with the standards and processes required for structural certification (e.g. NASA-STD-5001, ECSS, or equivalent), and experience producing analysis reports that hold up under formal review.
- Working knowledge of CAD environments (CATIA, NX, or equivalent), sufficient to review, sketch, and propose mechanical design changes.
- Experience supporting or running test campaigns, from test definition through correlation of results with predictions.
- A track record of contributing to anomaly investigations or non-conformance dispositions in a hardware-delivery environment.
- A hands-on approach to problem-solving, combined with a collaborative mindset to work across multidisciplinary teams
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to multitask
- Capability of working autonomously whilst collaborating productively with remote teams
- Positive and flexible attitude in a constantly evolving environment
- Grit to get the job done
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences
- Behaviors consistent with The Exploration Company’s core values of Commitment, Innovation, Trust, Quality, and Teamwork
The Exploration.Space builds Nyx, a modular, reusable orbital vehicle that can be refueled in orbit, and operates Nyx for various missions while also selling its open-interface components on the SpaceStore for others to use. Nyx works by launching to orbit, being refueled in space, and reconfiguring for different missions through its modular design. The company differentiates itself by pairing spacecraft operations with an open marketplace of modular components, inviting third parties to build on its technology. Its goal is to make space exploration affordable, sustainable, and accessible to a global audience.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series B
Total Funding
$214.8M
Headquarters
Planegg, Germany
Founded
2021
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- July 2026 funding talks target $300 million at over $2 billion valuation.
- July 21 2026 Siemens partnership accelerates Nyx engineering, traceability, and certification workflows.
- March 2026 QuesTek adoption and 114 open roles signal rapid scale-up.
What critics are saying
- Mission Possible lost contact before splashdown in 2025; recovery remains unproven.
- ESA's ALADDIN competition threatens Nyx; rivals Thales Alenia Space and OHB chase funding.
- 2028 heavy-lift launcher ambitions and Houston crew hiring stretch capital before revenues mature.
What makes The Exploration Company unique
- TEC holds ESA's 2024 cargo-return prime contract and already flew Mission Possible in 2025.
- June 2026 Storm adds in-house propulsion, reducing dependence on Ariane, SpaceX, and providers.
- June 30 2026 European Astrotech acquisition locks fueling, propulsion services, and launch-site execution.
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Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
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↓ -1%2 year growth
↓ -5%German SpaceX competitor heading for $2 billion valuation. 17:05, 27 July 2026 According to a Financial Times report, the European space startup could soon receive $300 million. A bit of SpaceX made in Europe: As the Financial Times reports, the German-French company The Exploration Company (TEC) could soon announce financing of over $300 million. This would give TEC double unicorn status - a valuation of $2 billion. There is no official confirmation from TEC yet. The company was founded in 2021 by Hélène Huby. The Frenchwoman was previously responsible for space at Airbus. Recycling space capsule. TEC's product is called Nyx. It is a reusable space capsule. Currently unmanned, later there could also be a version with passengers. However, the cycle has not yet been closed. As thenextweb reports, the test flights have never gone so well that the Nyx capsule could be sent off again. The fresh money is a good sign of confidence in the team around Huby. Likewise, the open positions indicate optimism. A total of 114 positions are advertised at TEC. From technicians in Munich (annual gross 47,000-60,000 euros) to the chief position for testing constructions (up to 140,000).
SpaceX's European rival is in talks to raise $300 million, FT reports. The Exploration Company GmbH, a potential European rival to Elon Musk's company, is in talks to raise at least $300 million, which would lift the company's valuation to over $2 billion. By Yash Roy July 26, 2026 | 02:29 PM Bloomberg - The Exploration Company GmbH, a potential European rival to SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, is in talks to raise at least $300 million, partly from the European Union's Scaleup Europe fund, which would lift the company's valuation to over $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. The funding round, which has not yet been finalized, would help finance the company's efforts to develop Europe's first reusable space capsule intended to carry cargo to the International Space Station and its planned successor, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The Scaleup Europe fund is managed by Swedish investment group EQT AB. Neither the Exploration Company nor EQT responded to requests for comment outside of regular business hours on Sunday. The company last raised about $160 million in 2024, receiving funds backed by the governments of France and Germany with investors such as French Tech Souveraineté and German funds DeepTech and Climate Fonds. The 2024 funding round was also intended to finance its reusable space capsule, Nyx. Read more at Bloomberg.com
Siemens collaborates with The Exploration Company on reusable spacecraft development. By S. N. Jenkins July 21, 2026 Siemens announced on July 21 that it is supporting The Exploration Company in the development of next-generation reusable spacecraft. Edwin Severijn, senior vice president and general manager for Europe, Middle East, Africa at Siemens Digital Industries Software, said, "The future of aerospace will be defined by companies that combine speed, innovation and engineering precision at scale. Our work with The Exploration Company exemplifies how Siemens Xcelerator helps customers build a connected digital enterprise that accelerates development and enables them to meet the rigorous demands of next generation space programs." Daniel Prudente Martins, principal EWIS & electrical interfaces for Nyx Avionics at The Exploration Company, said, "At The Exploration Company, our mission is to make space more accessible through reusable technology. Achieving this requires an advanced, scalable engineering environment. Working with Siemens and adopting its best-in-class industrial software is helping us connect our engineering processes, reduce rework, accelerate development and streamline manufacturing as we scale our operations. For MissionBikini, our orbital demonstration capsule, we progressed from initial concept to flight hardware in just nine months, demonstrating the speed at which our integrated engineering approach enables rapid development." The integrated software tools within the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio enable seamless data exchange and traceability throughout the development process while supporting certification requirements typical in aerospace programs. By bringing together mechanical, electrical and simulation disciplines in a single engineering environment, teams can work more efficiently. During the development of Storm - The Exploration Company's high thrust rocket engine - the team can model and optimize additive manufacturing processes more effectively, with changes in one domain reflected across others. Siemens supports sustainability through its DEGREE framework, which emphasizes decarbonization as well as ethics and governance; resource efficiency; equity; and employability, according to the official website. The company focuses on technology in electrification, automation and digitalization to deliver value; operates globally across sectors including Digital Industries and Smart Infrastructure; has local expertise nearly everywhere; is known for breakthrough technologies addressing sustainability challenges; operates divisions such as Mobility and Healthineers; and Roland Busch serves as president and chief executive officer - all according to the official website.
Munich / Westcott – 30 June 2026 — The Exploration Company (TEC) today announces the acquisition of European Astrotech Limited (EAL), a UK‑based specialist in spacecraft propulsion services, propellant chemistry, and launch site fuelling operations.
The Exploration Company is recruiting for its Nyx Crew team in Houston. June 29, 2026 The Exploration Company has published some of its first dedicated job openings for the development of a future crewed variant of its Nyx spacecraft. All three of these initial positions will be based in Houston, Texas. When asked why it's recruiting for these positions in Houston, the company cited "a deep pool of human spaceflight expertise" as one of its primary motivations. While The Exploration Company is currently working towards completing an initial demonstration mission of its Nyx Earth cargo capsule, it has announced plans for several other variants of the vehicle. These variants would be used to transport cargo to lunar orbit and the Moon's surface, and to ferry crew to and from low Earth orbit. In early June, the company published vacancies for three positions dedicated to the development of its Nyx Crew vehicle, all of which will be based in Houston. These are not support roles. The successful candidates will be directly involved in shaping the vehicle's design. The most significant of the three is the Nyx Crew Vehicle Design Principal. The company describes this role as "responsible for leading the vehicle mechanical design development effort from early concept and architecture definition through qualification and flight readiness, ensuring the successful delivery of safe, reliable, and high-performance hardware." Next is a Nyx Crew Propulsion Engine Principal, who will be responsible for developing a high-thrust hypergolic propulsion system to the same flight-readiness stage as the vehicle design. Finally, The Exploration Company's recruiters are looking for an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) engineer to work under the ECLSS Principal, who has been employed by the company's Houston-based subsidiary since July 2025. When asked whether the company was planning to base its Nyx Crew development in Houston, a representative told European Spaceflight that it had not yet made a decision either way. Regarding why the company was hiring for these positions in the US, the representative cited the location's talent pool and its proximity to "important partners." "Hiring in Houston offers access to a deep pool of human spaceflight expertise, as well as closeness to important partners like NASA's Johnson Space Center and several commercial space station operators," the representative said. One of the challenges of developing this kind of hardware in the US while being headquartered in Europe is navigating export controls like the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which tightly regulate who can access certain technologies and how they may be shared outside the country. As a further clue to the company's plan for its Houston-based subsidiary, a fourth notable vacancy recently published is for a US Export Control Officer who would be tasked with navigating these regulations. As a result, while the company is publicly undecided, its recruitment strategy appears to signal a clear direction. A company looking for a mere commercial outpost does not hire vehicle design principals, nor does it onboard the specialized legal talent required to navigate ITAR. Taken together, the vacancies suggest The Exploration Company's Houston operation is being developed as a substantive engineering base for its Nyx Crew vehicle. Keep European Spaceflight independent. Your donation will help European Spaceflight to continue digging into the stories others miss. Every euro keeps its reporting alive.