MaiaSpace is a European space tech company, designing, manufacturing and operating competitive and sustainable solutions for space mobility. We believe that access to space is a major enabler for a better and more sustainable life on Earth, addressing the challenges humanity faces: climate, resources, connectivity and data. Our aim is to successfully design and test a cost-effective, reusable mini-launch vehicle by 2026.

Cryogenic stage thermal engineer

We are looking for a thermal engineer to join one of our Cryogenic Stage Teams. Our teams design, manufacture and test the cryogenic stages. You will determine the thermal environment to which the stage and its constituting sub-systems are exposed, with a main focus on the thermal environment inside stage and launcher cavities. You will also be responsible for sizing the necessary thermal regulation systems, including conditioning and thermal protections. You will work in close collaboration with thermal engineers from other product teams, with possible support from experts.

Your tasks include all or a subset of the following based on your experience and abilities:

• Contribute to the cryogenic stage development plan by identifying necessary activities to ensure flight worthiness from a thermal perspective, including simulations and/or tests
• Define the required methods and tools to perform the necessary calculations, whether analytical or numerical, or contribute to this activity
• Benchmark, select, purchase and support the installation of necessary numerical tools to perform simulations, or contribute to these activities
• Calculate the thermal environment (radiative, convective and conductive) in stage cavities or on stage structures during all flight phases, whether on ground, in atmospheric flight or ballistic phases
• Define test objectives, develop measurement plans and identify necessary sensors; contribute to the elaboration of test campaigns, perform test predictions and test exploitations
• Assess the compatibility of stage equipment with the thermal environment and, if incompatibilities arise, propose solutions (design modifications, additional tests, reduction of calculation conservatisms)
• Size thermal protections and determine possible thermal protection materials and technologies
• Size conditioning systems
• Support the treatment of production anomalies on thermal regulation systems
• Perform flight simulations and flight exploitations

Requirements:

🛸 Specific competences & abilities:

• Strong knowledge and experience in thermal engineering; prior experience is appreciated
• Knowledge and experience of launch vehicles or aerospace/aeronautics vehicles is appreciated
• Experience with thermal modelling tools
• Experience with programming languages (Python, VBA)
• Knowledge of thermal management and thermal protection technologies
• English level sufficient to read and write technical documentation, perform oral technical presentations and interact on technical topics

🎓 Qualification: Engineering degree (+5 years post-Baccalaureate) ideally specialized in thermal engineering

🎬 Working at MaiaSpace

You will join a friendly multi-disciplinary team, composed of multi-skilled people, following Agile and Scrum methodologies. Your role and responsibilities may evolve over time with varied assignments and challenges depending on priorities and competences. Your work will be hands-on and in close contact with the final product. We are open-minded, transparent, pragmatic, results-oriented and people-centric. Teamwork is at the heart of how we work together, with co-workers sharing respect, humility, reactivity and autonomy and a passion for technical excellence. Our newly acquired office space at La Défense is located in the heart of Europe’s largest purpose-built business and commercial district with easy access to public transport.

Written and spoken communication is in French and English.