Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), delivers high‑tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth Observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures for more than 40 years. With a strong focus on innovation across Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space, we support customers worldwide, including governments, space agencies and telecommunications operators.
The Space Propulsion Centre of Excellence at our Harwell site is expanding, and we are looking for an experienced chemical propulsion engineer to join our team. The role will be based at the TAS UK Harwell office.
Primary Purpose Of The Role
- Senior figure supporting various projects and team members within the existing team.
- 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.
- Primary technical point of contact responsible for and leading the propulsion subsystem, in both MAIT and Architecture, including procured propulsion equipment on a project, interfacing with customer technical teams, PMO, AIT team, procurement and other subsystem experts (such as Mech/Thermal, AOCS).
- Interpret mission/customer specific and generic system level requirements and establish the baseline technical requirements document (TRD) for the propulsion subsystem.
- Provide technical support to system level propulsion trade‑offs for optimisation of the satellite and mission design.
- Support the preparation of subsystem design justification documentation for major design reviews throughout the project life cycle.
- Present subsystem design justification in major design reviews in cooperation with the Program Management Office and other subsystems.
- Review and consolidate the technical documentation for the system through the different project life cycle milestones & reviews (EQSR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR, QR, etc).
- Establish integration and test plans, and requirements for the subsystem development and improvement of new analysis tools in specialised fluidic software (e.g. EcosimPro), as well as in Excel, MATLAB, and Python.
- Perform performance analyses in support of non‑conformance review board.
- Prepare/update subsystem analysis reports through the different project life cycle milestones & reviews (PDR, CDR, QR, etc).
- Demonstrate systems engineering knowledge across the Systems V to achieve critical project outcomes to time, cost and quality.
- Understand requirement management traceability, IVVQ, etc.
- Provide regular reporting of technical progress to the project team and TAS management.
- Provide technical input to future propulsion developments and contribute to continuous improvement of products, systems and processes.
- Follow up equipment procurement from a technical perspective, in conjunction with the procurement department.
- Participate/oversee the propulsion module manufacture and AIT activities.
- Manage anomalies or non‑conformances occurring throughout the project life cycle at equipment or subsystem level, 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.
- 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 a 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 (e.g. engineering) or related subjects (e.g. 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‑propellant thrusters using hydrazine and experience working at a system/subsystem level with those engines.
- Desirable: Understanding of construction, running and operating principles of PPUs and similar supporting electrical suppliers.
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance, which may require further evidence. For further details, please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro‑diverse applicants or those with a disability or long‑term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
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