Senior Propulsion Design Engineer – Turbomachinery

Orbex Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark

Orbex is looking for a Senior Propulsion Design Engineer to support the development of our Turbomachinery. Ideally, candidates will have experience in Mechanical design and development for Turbopumps, Turbomachinery, or Rotodynamic Components, ideally for Space applications.

Orbex

Orbex is a leading micro-launch company with our Prime and Proxima launch vehicles being prepared to launch from Scotland. We are well placed to be one of the first operational micro-launch companies in Europe, with over €122m/£103m of project financing secured, a number of customers signed up, a launch license application submitted, and backing from organizations including UKSA and ESA.

We are a rapidly growing company with staff located between our production and test facilities in Forres, Scotland, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Working on cutting-edge advances in rocket fuel technology, Prime's carbon footprint is up to 96% lower than comparable vehicles, leading to innovations in propulsion and tank structures. A state-of-the-art re-flight system means we can recover and reuse our technology, and innovations in separation mechanisms mean we leave no debris in orbit.

Having developed in-house production capability, we can 3D print complex engines, produce full-scale carbon composite fuel tanks, and have avionics and software testing labs in both Scotland and Denmark.

Based in Copenhagen, you will be right in the heart of this fast-paced, cutting-edge company, using your skills to build a new launch vehicle for a buoyant commercial market.

Orbex is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is working towards a more diverse workforce in the aerospace industry.

The Position

Your role will primarily focus on the preliminary and detailed mechanical design of turbomachinery components for our propulsion systems. You will take ownership of your designs end to end, from concept through testing and optimization, to ensure flight-ready hardware. Core to this position is the mechanical design elements of turbomachinery including detailed design, CAD Design, and GD&T rather than simulation, modeling, and more theoretical aspects of propulsion.

Responsibilities Of The Role

• Design, development, and integration of turbomachinery systems, including pumps, turbines, and associated components for propulsion systems.
• Create and iterate detailed CAD models and technical drawings, ensuring compliance with GD&T and manufacturing standards.
• Perform structural, thermal, and fluid dynamic analyses to validate designs using tools such as ANSYS or equivalent.
• Define and execute test plans and procedures, analyze test data, and prepare comprehensive reports.
• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure quality assurance and manufacturability, including working with additively manufactured components.
• Develop assembly and operational procedures for testing and integration.
• Contribute to design reviews and manage multiple concurrent work packages with changing priorities.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in the mechanical design and development of propulsion or turbomachinery systems.
• Expertise in CAD tools such as SolidWorks or CATIA, with experience in technical drawing generation.
• Strong supporting knowledge of engineering principles, including thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and structural analysis.
• Familiarity with manufacturing techniques, with an emphasis on additive manufacturing would be ideal.
• Experience with test data analysis, design for manufacturability, and generating design documentation.
• Proficiency in MS Office and strong communication skills in written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience designing turbopumps or cryogenic fluid systems for rocket engines.
• Experienced in the detailed mechanical design of rotating turbomachinery elements such as pump impellers, inducers, turbines, shaft rotordynamics and balancing, sealing, etc.
• Experience with rocket engine or turbomachinery qualification testing, operations of ground support equipment, and test data analysis.
• Strong proven knowledge of manufacturing techniques commonly applied in rocket propulsion technology, specific emphasis on additive manufacturing desired.
• Experienced in GD&T, Design for Manufacture (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Hand Calculations.
• Designs for cryogenic fluids, including liquid oxygen.
• Familiarity with industry standards (e.g., ECSS, NASA-STD).
• Practical experience testing and validating designs.

Personality

Orbex is a high-paced, startup culture where you will be encouraged to take responsibility for tasks and see them through. It is imperative that you take initiative, communicate openly, and can collaborate with technical and non-technical team members. You must be able to thrive in an international, diverse, and multicultural environment.

Location – Copenhagen

Our roles need to be on-site in Denmark due to the nature of the position, export controls, and security. This role is based in Copenhagen at Orbex's Danish propulsion engineering and manufacturing site.

Copenhagen is one of Europe's most modern and aesthetically interesting cities. It is regarded as one of the most livable cities in the world, with a strong reputation for being clean, green, and sustainable.

With a huge, active waterfront and a lively social scene, Copenhagen offers a wide range of social activities and leisure opportunities, all with a uniquely Scandinavian flair.

Security

You must be a UK or European citizen or from a country that is a signatory to the MTCR convention. You may be required to undergo a UK BPSS check, which includes a criminal record check.

Benefits – Denmark

• Competitive salary.
• Annual 1% special holiday allowance.
• Group Life Insurance, Lump Sum.
• Enhanced vacation leave, including the Danish Holiday Act (25 days) + an additional 5 days, public holidays, and up to 3 enhanced public holidays.
• Up to 4 days of additional leave for child-related sickness.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• Comprehensive relocation assistance, including visa sponsorship, relocation allowance, and 1 month of accommodation paid for by the company.

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