Mechanical Engineer - Propulsion System Development

Propulsion Development Engineer

About us:

At GATE Space, we develop green, chemical in-space propulsion solutions for the NewSpace economy. Drawing on years of experience developing rocket engines, our team is chasing the dream of a thriving economy in space and tackling space engineering problems with a rapid prototyping philosophy. We focus on the development of two products: The GATE Jetpack – a plug-and-play mobility solution for satellite missions – and the GATE Thruster – the world’s first chemical propulsion system capable of highly responsive deep throttling and differential thrust stabilization.

At GATE Space, we are committed to workforce diversity, equality and inclusion. We want to build a diverse team and welcome and value all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

About your role:

As a Mechanical Engineer at GATE Space, you will be responsible for advancing our thruster and propulsion systems, focusing on design and analysis of mechanical components, structures and mechanisms. You’ll play a key role in mechanical and thermal design, including close cooperation with parts manufacturing, while applying your numerical analysis expertise to optimize the structural and thermal design. This versatile role requires relevant work experience and offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge propulsion development in a fast-paced environment, supporting the whole development lifecycle.

Your primary tasks:

• Development and design of thruster components and propulsion systems

• Take ownership of the structural and thermal design

• Conduct numerical mechanical and thermal analysis to verify designs and establish test predictions

• Apply internal standards in accordance with industry standards

• Contribute to customer projects as part of the project team

• Cooperate with the propulsion development, manufacturing as well as assembly, integration and testing team

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, , or a related field.

• Industry experience of at least one year (or multiple years in a leading role of a student rocketry team liquid propulsion development) in as many of the following areas:

  • Experience in lightweight design of structures and mechanisms.

  • Experience in design and management of large assemblies.

  • Experience in CAD tools (e.g. Siemens NX).

  • Experience in mechanical and thermal numerical analysis.

  • Experience in numerical analysis tools (e.g. Ansys).

  • Experience in design for manufacturing and testing.

  • Experience in working in project teams.

  • [Optional but desired] Practical experience in manufacturing and assembly of mechanical systems.

  • [Optional but desired] Experience in developing space hardware.

  • [Optional but desired] Familiarity with industry regulations and standards for space applications.

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.

• In-depth knowledge of spacecraft propulsion, navigation, and control systems.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to evolving priorities.

About your employment

We are looking for a full-time employee, starting as soon as possible. This role is in-person in Vienna, Austria with occasional travel to customers all across Europe & the US as well as conferences and industry events globally.

About your benefits

• First row seat in the development and implementation of space missions

• Opportunity to shape a fast-growing space technology company

• Attractive compensation package of €48,000 gross per year (exceeding compensation depending on qualifications)

• Employee stock option bonus program making sure you benefit when the company grows

• Other perks such as free lunch at the office every day, free public transit ticket, etc.

• Flexible working time arrangements

Join us in shaping the future of in-space mobility. If you're excited about pioneering technology, passionate about space exploration, and driven by business growth, apply now to become a key member of our dynamic team at GATE Space. Together, we'll enable the next generation of space travel and exploration.