{"id":3702766,"url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-principal-engineer","title":"Storm Test Bench Principal Engineer","company":{"id":51900,"name":"The Exploration Company","domain":"exploration.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/the-exploration-company","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":90,"open_postings":25,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.2,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":90,"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Bordeaux, France"],"countries":["FR"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-03T16:28:37Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-03","last_verified_at":"2026-11-05T17:18:24Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"Here at The Exploration Company, we are building spacecrafts for humanity.\nHere at The Exploration Company we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit, and which carries cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.\nWe are seeking an experienced and talented Storm Test Bench Principal Engineer, to lead the development of one of the most powerful European cryogenic test bench for 2.5MN class engines.\nThis is a key leadership role that requires deep technical expertise in liquid-propellant propulsion systems, a proven track record managing complex engineering projects, and experience leading and mentoring technical teams. As Storm Test Bench Principal Engineer, you will ensure that test bench development is carried out safely, efficiently and with technical rigor, from design through commissioning and system-level testing. You will provide technical direction to the testing team, coordinate priorities and resources, resolve complex technical issues, and ensure the test bench meets its performance, quality, schedule and safety objectives.\nThe role combines technical leadership, people leadership and hands-on involvement in preparing and executing complex cryogenic propulsion test campaigns.\nKey Responsibilities / Tasks:\nProvide overall technical leadership for the test bench development\n\nDefine and maintain the development approach, philosophy, plans and technical execution strategy\n\nEnsure that test bench capabilities are aligned with system requirements, design intent, verification objectives and programme milestones\n\nLead the technical assessment and resolution of complex test problems, including test anomalies, hardware issues, instrumentation problems and system performance deviations\n\nCoordinate the investigation of anomalies and ensure that root-cause analysis, corrective actions and retest activities are properly managed\n\nEnsure that the test bench design performed in accordance with applicable safety rules, operational constraints and approved procedures\n\nSupport the development of the teams through coaching, technical guidance and constructive feedback\n\nBuild a culture of ownership, disciplined execution, continuous improvement and learning from experience\n\nContribute to integrated project planning, including test schedules, resource requirements, facility usage and major test milestones\n\nIdentify technical, operational and schedule risks related to test activities and ensure that mitigation actions are defined and implemented\n\nEnsure compliance with company processes and applicable regulatory requirements for cryogenic propulsion test activities\n\nPromote a strong safety culture, particularly for activities involving cryogenic propellants, high pressure, hazardous energy and propulsion test operations\n\nRequired Qualifications & Skills\nDegree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, propulsion engineering or a related technical discipline\n\nProven professional experience (5+ years) in spacecraft, launch vehicle, aircraft, industrial gas, energy or another relevant high-technology environment\n\nExperience in cryogenic propulsion systems testing\n\nProven experience leading engineering teams and coordinating multidisciplinary technical activities\n\nExperience with cryogenic systems, liquid propulsion, pressurised systems, fluid systems or related test operations\n\nExperience planning and executing complex test campaigns from test preparation through final reporting\n\nDemonstrated ability to lead technical investigations and resolve test anomalies using structured problem-solving methods\n\nExperience working with test facilities, ground support equipment, instrumentation and data acquisition systems\n\nCapacity to travel to test sites and partner facilities as required\n\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills\n\nFluent professional English. French will be an advantage\n\nWhy you should join us!\nWhat makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:\nWe’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind\n\nWe’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them\n\nWe have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?\n\nWe'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. \nThe Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable. \n\nAll offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible. \nIf applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5554,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"English","level":"All levels","optional":false}]},"benefits":["Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Aerospace Manufacturing","Space Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-03T20:06:50Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":90,"reasons":["conf:4","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-principal-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/the-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-principal-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-05T19:11:13Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":25765,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-06T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":51900},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=51900"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-principal-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-principal-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-principal-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/the-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-principal-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fthe-exploration-company-storm-test-bench-principal-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3702766}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"exploration.space","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3702766},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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