Supply Chain Manufacturing Engineer - Metals

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.

We want you as a talented Supply Chain Manufacturing Engineer (Metals) to help us in our mission by supporting the design team to build up the Nyx vehicle. As process engineer you will:

• Work together with the mechanical and design units to support through our supply chain the manufacturing of complex metallic structures,

• You will work closely with the product assurance and procurement team to help controlling the quality of the final delivered products.

Key Responsibilities

You will have a key responsibility at the technical crossroad between vehicle design team, product assurance team and procurement team. Your role will be continuously evolving, but day to day your duties will include:

• Taking responsibility for technical exchanges with suppliers about manufacturing of metallic structural parts. Under the intended product owner guidance you act as a technical liaison between the company and its suppliers, facilitating clear and open communication to address any manufacturing related issue promptly.

• Monitoring suppliers industrial process, and if necessary propose improvements, to make sure the final product meets the requirements.

• Supervising supplier's development roadmaps from TRL 4-5 up to TRL 9, assuring the proper technology development.

• Partnering with the Product Assurance team to monitor supplier quality control plans, required standards, specifically focusing on NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) and material certifications.

• Collaborating continuously with engineering team and suppliers to accomplish the delivery of final products, from engineering models up to final flight models, in accordance with schedule.

• Supporting suppliers to analyse and improve their industrial processes, considering challenges of large-scale machining, sheet metal bending, additive manufacturing, and specialized joining (e.g. welded structures).

• Supporting the procurement and engineering team with technical discussions with suppliers.

• Documentation for the various reviews (TRL review, PDR, CDR, QR, MRR)

• Generating technical reports and presentations to communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

What we would love to see from you

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Aerospace engineering, Material and Processes engineering, Mechanical engineering or any related area.

• At least 7 years of experience as manufacturing engineer, focus on space-graded metallic components is mandatory.

• Deep knowledge of high-performance alloys (Aluminium, Titanium, Inconel) and manufacturing methods such as 5-axis machining, sheet metal bending, coating, heat treatment, ALM (Additive Layer Manufacturing), and forging.

• Significant experience in the manufacturing of welded metallic structures (e.g., TIG, Electron Beam or Friction Stir Welding) and the associated inspection standards.

• Familiarity with spacecraft primary structures, pressure vessels, or re-entry vehicle hardware is a major asset.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail as well as organizational skills.

• Effective communication and teamwork abilities.

• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (Design, AIT, Product Assurance, Procurement).

Why you should join us!

What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:  

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind 

• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them  

• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?  

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. 
 
The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.  


All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible.

If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.