Propulsion R&D Engineer (M/F)

About Exotrail

Born from a strong ambition to reach for the stars, Exotrail is a fast‑growing scale‑up founded in 2017. Its mission is to develop and commercialise propulsion systems for small satellites on a global scale.

Job Description

We are looking for a Propulsion R&D Engineer at our Massy site to support the rapid growth. Attached to the Plasma & Materials Team, you will be responsible for:

• Conducting advanced research
• Developing cutting‑edge propulsion technologies
• Collaborating with cross‑functional teams

Main Responsibilities

• Design, develop and analyse advanced propulsion technologies, including prototype construction and validation testing under diverse operating conditions.
• Plan and execute laboratory tests, analyse performance data, identify discrepancies and implement corrective measures to optimise propulsion systems.
• Research and evaluate innovative materials, manufacturing methods and emerging technologies to enhance propulsion performance and reliability.
• Prepare technical reports, research papers, presentations and maintain comprehensive documentation of research activities, experiments and project progress.
• Drive innovation initiatives within the propulsion domain, contribute to new research concepts, and support patent applications and intellectual property strategies.

Preferred Experience

• Education: PhD in electric propulsion, chemical propulsion, plasma physics, material science or a related field.
• Experience: 3–5 years of relevant research experience gained through a PhD, postdoctoral work or industry projects.
• Hands‑on experience with electric propulsion systems and laboratory environments, including vacuum chambers, oscilloscopes, diagnostics equipment, power supplies and experimental setup integration.
• Proficiency in data acquisition, test applications and data processing tools such as Python, ideally MATLAB and/or LabVIEW.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to independently investigate, understand and optimise experimental behaviour and propulsion system performance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both French and English, including strong technical writing abilities and a passion for developing agile, high‑technology space solutions.