Thermomecanical engineer

Overview

By joining Alpha Impulsion as a Thermomechanical Engineer in the Toulouse office, you will play a key role in the development of AMBER, Alpha Impulsion's small scale autophage demonstrator for suborbital flight and in-space propulsion.

Reporting to AMBER's Lead Engineer, you will participate in the design, integration and validation of the combustion chamber and other critical mechanical components in harsh thermal environments. You will contribute to the scale-up for orbital launch, by contributing to the design and testing of increasingly complex subsystems. You embark on a young project, with the opportunity to build it from start to qualification and exploitation.

Your first project here

Alpha Impulsion is finalising the development of a small-scale engine for AMBER as part of a major French national contract. Its goal is to derisk at small scale technologies to be used in the future GARNET engine for launch vehicles. The results of this demonstration might change the way mini launchers are built, demonstrating performance up to twice that of current propulsion technologies.

Your key responsibilities

As part of your missions, you will be entrusted with the following responsibilities:

• Participate in the design of the combustion chamber and other critical mechanical components operating in harsh thermal environement (combustion gases, cryogenic fluids, high temperature gradient and thermal shocks).
• Participate in the design and implementation of thermal solutions for multiple engine subsystems.
• Conduct finite element models (FEM) for thermal, structural, and coupled thermomechanical simulations.
• In collaboration with the Lead System Engineer, contribute to the definition and execution of the combustion chamber and mechanical systems test plans (acceptance, subsystem preliminary tests, firing tests).
• Build supplier partnerships for the combustion chamber and thermal solutions procurement.

Required education, experience and skills

• Master’s degree in aerospace or equivalent.
• At least three years of experience in thermomechanical analysis and design for aerospace systems. Any experience with cryogenics would be viewed positively.
• Applied knowledge of structural mechanics, heat transfer, thermomechanical behavior, and material characterization in harsh thermal environments for the design of propulsive elements (high/low temperature mechanisms, ablative thermal protection, regenerative cooling).
• Experience with FEM analysis and numerical simulation tools such as Simcenter 3D.
• Experience in test definition, instrumentation, correlation of analytical models with test results, and validation of thermomechanical predictions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical activities autonomously and report results through clear, traceable engineering documentation.
• Comfortable with a startup environment and Agile frameworks.
• Professional English required. Proficency in French and/or Italian would be a plus.

Compensation

Base salary negotiable based on experience. Additionally, competitive compensation package including meal vouchers, holidays vouchers, 75% public transport reimbursement (versus the usual 50%), sustainable mobility package Forfait Mobilité Durable, IT material compensation, team performance bonus. Flexible remote work organisation.

If you thrive on challenge, take on a new one and join the crew.