Principal Advanced Machining Engineer

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building innovative aerospace technologies that advance the future of space transportation.

[French version below/Version française ci-dessous] About the role

The Exploration Company is looking for a Principal Advanced Machining Engineer to lead and structure our CNC machining workshop in Bordeaux.

Join The Exploration Company as a Principal Advanced Machining Engineer and act as the key link between Design teams, CAM/CNC programming and shop-floor execution for complex space hardware.

Based at our Bordeaux-Le Haillan site, you will provide technical leadership to a CNC team of around six people, with additional resources depending on workload. You will support Nyx and future space programs through a combination of manufacturing engineering, Design for Manufacturing and operational workshop management.

Your role will be to transform design intent into robust and efficient manufacturing solutions, while ensuring that the team, processes and machine park perform effectively every day.

The workshop covers 3-axis and 5-axis milling, CNC turning, mill-turn, grinding and Wire EDM activities. You will report to the Lead Advanced Manufacturing.

What you will do

• Lead, support and develop the CNC workshop team.

• Organise daily priorities, workload, machine allocation and production follow-up.

• Drive shop-floor routines covering progress, blockers, safety, quality and delivery risks.

• Act as the main interface between Design, Manufacturing Engineering, CNC programmers and machinists.

• Contribute early to Design for Manufacturing activities, including manufacturability, tolerances, datums, tool access, workholding, machining sequences and inspection strategy.

• Support and challenge CNC programming, machining strategies, setups, tooling and workholding.

• Coordinate machining activities across milling, turning, mill-turn, grinding and Wire EDM.

• Manage the capability, availability and performance of the CNC machine park, including first-level maintenance and preventive maintenance follow-up.

• Improve workshop performance through machine utilisation, setup time, first-time-right, rework reduction and delivery adherence.

• Manage team skills development, training, onboarding and technical standards.

• Support equipment investments, capacity planning, supplier selection and machine commissioning.

• Coordinate with Design, MAIT, Quality, Metrology, Production and Supply Chain.

• Ensure appropriate production control, traceability, documentation and non-conformity management.

What you bring

• An engineering degree in mechanical, manufacturing, industrialisation or machining engineering.

• Significant experience in manufacturing engineering, industrialisation or advanced CNC machining, including CAM and HyperMill.

• Strong knowledge of Design for Manufacturing, GD&T, functional tolerancing and machining processes.

• Experience leading a technical team and managing workshop priorities, capacity and machine-park performance.

• Experience in aerospace, space or another high-precision industrial environment.

• Professional proficiency in English and French.

Why join us

• Lead and develop a strategic CNC workshop for a European space company.

• Work on critical hardware for Nyx and future space programs.

• Combine upstream manufacturing engineering with real responsibility for people, processes and equipment.

• Have a direct impact on Design for Manufacturing, industrial maturity and workshop performance.

À propos du poste

The Exploration Company recherche un(e) Principal Advanced Machining Engineer pour diriger et structurer notre atelier d'usinage CNC à Bordeaux.

Rejoignez The Exploration Company en tant que Principal Advanced Machining Engineer et devenez le lien clé entre les équipes de conception, la programmation CAM/CNC et l'exécution