Darwin Recruitment are currently hiring for a Mechanical Engineer on behalf of a company in France that was founded in 2020 and are an aerospace startup specializing in solar sail technology, aiming to revolutionize space exploration by providing low-cost, sustainable propulsion systems for deep space missions. This company offers access to deep space using low-cost, reliable and scalable solar sails. While chemical and electric propulsion are complex and limited in range, solar sails fulfil the dream of free and continuous acceleration using the sun’s energy. The company’s mission is to make space more accessible by developing solar sails that utilize sunlight for propulsion, eliminating the need for traditional fuel sources. This approach enables continuous acceleration, making it feasible to reach distant destinations like the Oort Cloud and conduct extensive planetary and lunar exploration. In January 2023, this company launched its first demonstration mission, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission involved deploying a 73.3 m² solar sail from a 6U CubeSat to test the deployment mechanism and control algorithms. The sail was deployed using a spin-sail technique, where the satellite’s slow rotation and centrifugal force facilitated the unfolding of the sail.

Your mission will be to:

* Contribute to the design of robust and reliable mechanisms for this companies next-generation dragsail, then support the development of future products

* Optimize mass, cost and delay for key mechanical components

* Prepare design reviews and present to the wider team

* Prepare and maintain manufacturing drawings and coordinate manufacturing with suppliers

* Organize and perform tests to quickly iterate on your design

Experience:

* Good understanding of the following subjects: machine elements, materials engineering, manufacturing technology, mechanics of materials, structures, and solids

* At least 2-years’ experience in 3D modelling with Catia or equivalent

* Some experience with 2D engineering drawings, a good understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and topology optimization

* Familiarity with ECSS and NASA standards/handbooks

* A meticulous mindset and a drive for high-quality, reliable engineering

* Hands-on experience in precision engineering and mechanical prototyping

* Experience in structural/thermal FEA simulations

* Programming skills (Matlab, Python)

* Strong analytical skills, a proactive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills and unbounded curiosity

* Speak English – further languages welcome

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

James Godfrey