Propulsion Systems Engineer

Location: Oxford, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Join Thales Alenia Space’s UK Propulsion Centre of Excellence at Harwell, supporting Europe’s leading satellite programmes (including Spacebus NEO and Space INSPIRE). You’ll work on cutting-edge chemical and electric propulsion subsystems for recurring and new satellite product lines, from early mission phases through to operations.

Governments and private industry rely on us to create satellite‑based systems that provide trusted, anytime‑anywhere connectivity and positioning—helping care for our planet, manage its resources thoughtfully, and explore our Solar System with curiosity and purpose. We view space as a new horizon for collective progress, shaping a more sustainable life on Earth. As a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space partners with Telespazio through the Space Alliance to deliver a full suite of integrated solutions and services.

The role

As a Propulsion Systems Engineer, you’ll be primarily in charge for the propulsion subsystem on projects, owning requirements, design justification, integration & test, and performance analysis across the full project life cycle (Phase A–E).

You will:

• Lead propulsion subsystem architecture and trade-offs to optimise satellite/mission design.
• Define and maintain the subsystem Technical Requirements Document (TRD) and ensure requirements traceability.
• Prepare and present design justification at major reviews (PDR, CDR, QR, etc.).
• Develop integration & test plans and oversee propulsion module MAIT/AIT activities.
• Build and improve analysis tools in EcosimPro, MATLAB, Python, and Excel; run performance analyses for non-conformance reviews.
• Interface with customers, PMO, AIT, procurement, and other subsystem experts (Mech/Thermal, AOCS).

You’ll bring

Essential

• Degree in engineering, space engineering, physics, or a closely related discipline.

Desirable (one of the following tracks)

• Direct space industry experience with propulsion subsystems.
• Chemical propulsion: design/development of mono- or bipropellant thrusters at system/subsystem level.
  OR
• Electric propulsion: design/development of Gridded Ion Engines (GIE) or Hall Effect Thrusters (HET/HAT) at system/subsystem level.

Strong communicators who can work autonomously, manage technical interfaces, and deliver to cost, schedule, and quality will thrive here.

Why join?

• Work on high-visibility European satellite missions from a recognised propulsion CoE.
• Hands-on involvement from concept through to AIT and operations, with real technical ownership.
• Collaborative, international environment with clear progression pathways in systems engineering.

Benefits:

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Security Clearance Requirement:

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance:

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

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