Job Description

Founded in 2017, ThrustMe is a pioneering space technology company revolutionizing the space propulsion industry. We made history in 2019 and 2020 with the world’s first in-orbit demonstrations of iodine-fueled electric propulsion systems based on RF ion thruster technology. Today, we are the global market leader in electric space propulsion for satellites below 150 kg, with more than 250 ion thrusters operating in space and over 1,000 systems ordered. We are growing rapidly from 70 to over 100 employees, with a significant part of the team dedicated to developing, industrializing and mass-producing space propulsion systems based on new concepts. *

Your role:

ThrustMe is looking for a Test and Qualification Engineer (M/F) with strong skills in developing test methods, running experiments and qualifying space hardware.

This position is within the Innovation Team, where you will solve problems without established solutions, build and test your ideas, and use the results to improve designs. This requires creativity, sound engineering judgment and the ability to work independently when requirements are still evolving. This role suits an engineer who enjoys open-ended development. You will help define the approach to unfamiliar problems while following applicable engineering and test procedures.

You will design and run tests to evaluate propulsion system performance and reliability under the conditions of launch and space operation. Your measurements and failure investigations will guide design improvements and demonstrate compliance with requirements.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• Plan, execute and document development and qualification tests, defining test conditions and pass/fail criteria from system requirements.
• Develop test setups, select instrumentation and automate measurements and data acquisition.
• Prepare prototypes for testing, investigate failures and troubleshoot hardware with design engineers.
• Analyze test data and measurement uncertainty, and report results against requirements.
• Maintain vacuum facilities and test equipment, and ensure instruments are calibrated and ready for use.
• Work with the Product Team to transfer validated test methods and results into production.

Skills and qualifications

Required skills and experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in aerospace engineering or a related field, with relevant experience in testing, validation or qualification.
• At least 3 years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience testing complex equipment under vacuum.
• Experience planning and conducting space hardware qualification campaigns, such as vibration, shock and thermal cycling tests.
• Practical skills in instrumentation, measurement automation and data analysis.
• Ability to write test procedures and reports, define pass/fail criteria and assess measurement uncertainty.
• Evidence of independently solving unfamiliar engineering problems and taking responsibility for the outcome.

Useful additional experience

• EMC testing or radiation testing of space hardware.
• Familiarity with ECSS or comparable space hardware testing standards.
• Engineering simulation tools such as COMSOL.
• Electronics, fluidics, chemistry or precision mechanisms.
• Transfer of development test methods into production.
• Personal engineering projects or other hands-on work that demonstrates curiosity and initiative.

How you work ?

You turn engineering questions into experiments and reliable test methods. You know relevant testing standards but can develop a sound approach when they do not cover a new design or operating condition. You question assumptions, assess measurement quality and turn results into useful feedback for design decisions. You work independently, seek input when needed and take responsibility for the quality and traceability of your results.

If you prefer more structured work on well-defined tasks, consider our other engineering vacancies at ThrustMe.