Electric Propulsion Engineer

Core responsibility: Define, integrate, verify, and support the electric propulsion (EP) subsystem across multiple satellite projects, from early mission design through in-orbit operations.

• Derive EP subsystem requirements from mission needs (orbit raising, station keeping, collision avoidance, deorbiting). Build and maintain delta-v, propellant, power, and thrust-time budgets in coordination with mission analysis, AOCS, and power teams.
• Define and manage the electrical, fluidic, mechanical, thermal, and data interfaces between the EP subsystem and the platform. Work closely with the power electronics team on PPU/bus interfaces, inrush and transient behaviour, grounding, and EMC.
• Select, follow up, and technically manage EP suppliers. Write and review specifications, SoWs, and ICDs. Track supplier progress, qualification status, and deliverables, and take part in supplier reviews and audits.
• Contribute to project milestone reviews and produce the associated EP documentation: design justification, analyses, verification plans, test procedures, and reports.
• Support assembly, integration, and test (AIT) activities, including propellant loading, pressurized system safety, and cleanliness and contamination control. 
• Assess system-level effects of EP operation, such as plume impingement, sputtering and contamination, thermal loads.
• Support launch campaigns, in-orbit commissioning, and operations. Analyse telemetry to monitor thruster performance and health, and feed lessons learned back into future designs.

• MSc degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in spacecraft propulsion, preferably electric propulsion, in design, integration, testing, or operations.
• Solid understanding of electric propulsion principles, including plasma physics basics, thruster operation, performance parameters (thrust, Isp, efficiency, lifetime), and typical failure modes.
• Understanding of the full EP subsystem chain: thruster, PPU, propellant storage and feed system, and associated control and telemetry.
• Experience managing technical interfaces with suppliers or partners, including specifications, ICDs, and progress follow-up.
• Structured, rigorous, and organized way of working. Able to manage several projects in parallel in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience reading and writing detailed technical documentation. Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills. Able to work across multidisciplinary teams and interface with customers and suppliers.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

• Experience contributing to space project milestones and qualification or acceptance campaigns for propulsion hardware.
• Experience with EP modelling and analysis tools, such as plasma models, plume models, lifetime and erosion analysis.