Chemical Propulsion Systems Engineer

Chemical Propulsion Engineer

Thales Alenia Space, a global space manufacturer, is seeking an experienced chemical propulsion engineer for its propulsion centre of excellence based at its Harwell site in the UK. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with significant space propulsion systems experience in chemical propulsion.

Primary Purpose of the Role:

Reporting to the Propulsion Systems Engineering Manager, the Systems Engineer will perform, but it is not limited to the following type of activities:

1. To be a senior figure supporting various projects and team members in general within the existing team.
2. Propulsion subsystem and propulsion equipment activities (EP and/or CP) during Phase A/B/C/D/E for recurring TAS satellite product line application programmes or developments.
3. Be the primary technical point of contact responsible and lead for the propulsion subsystem, in both MAIT and Architecture, including procured propulsion equipment's on a project, interfacing with the customer technical teams, PMO, AIT team, procurement and other subsystem experts, (such as Mech/Thermal, AOCS)
4. Interpret mission/customer specific and generic system level requirements and establishing the baseline technical requirements document (TRD) for the propulsion subsystem
5. Provide technical support to system level propulsion trade-offs for optimization of the satellite and mission design.
6. Support the preparation of subsystem design justification documentation for major design reviews throughout the project life cycle
7. Present subsystem design justification in major design reviews throughout the project life cycle in cooperation with the Program Management Office and other subsystems
8. Review and consolidate the technical documentation for the system through the different project life cycle milestones & reviews (EQSR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR, QR, etc)
9. Establishing integration and test plans and requirements for the subsystem Development and improvement of new analysis tools in specialised fluidic software (e.g. EcosimPro), and also in Excel, MATLAB, and Python.
10. Performance analyses in support of non-conformance review board.
11. Prepare/update subsystem analysis reports through the different project life cycle milestones & reviews (PDR, CDR, QR etc)
12. Demonstrates systems engineering knowledge – across the "Systems V" – to achieve critical project outcomes to time, cost and quality.
13. Understanding requirement management – traceability, IVVQ, etc.
14. Provide regular reporting of technical progress to the project team and TAS management.
15. Provide technical input to future propulsion developments and contribute to continuous improvement of products, systems and processes
16. Follow up equipment procurement from a technical perspective, in conjunction with the procurement department.
17. Participate/Oversee the propulsion module manufacture and AIT activities
18. Manage any anomalies or non-conformances occurring throughout the project life cycle at equipment or subsystem level with support from product engineers and technical experts and present technical status/progress in NCRs with the customer

Expected Behaviours:

• Clearly demonstrable technical competence on subsystems / equipment's
• Can communicate technically with confidence
• Team player who can confidently interface at all levels within a project and represent the company externally (with suppliers and customers)
• Pro-active and capable of working on own initiative with high level of integrity
• Proactively seeks to understand the wider TAS organisation thinking beyond own role/technical skill domain
• Has good commercial awareness of his or her specialist equipment
• Ability to complete his or her tasks autonomously to cost, schedule and quality

Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

The following are considered essential for this role:

• Degree level qualification in a discipline associated with Space Engineering (such as engineering) or related subjects (such as physics).
• Significant direct experience in space engineering and the industry, in particular with propulsion.
• Desirable: Experience in the design and development of mono or bi-propellent thrusters using hydrazine and experience working at a system/ subsystem level with said engines.
• Desirable: understanding of construction, running and operating principles of PPUs and similar supporting electrical suppliers.