System Architect

About Exotrail

Born from a strong ambition to reach for the stars, Exotrail is a fast-growing scale-up founded in 2017. Its mission: to develop and commercialize propulsion systems for small satellites on a global scale.

We design products focused on impact, fast delivery, and continuous improvement. Inspired by the digital world, we are firmly customer-oriented and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit.

We manage risks to push boundaries and achieve results that would not be possible within a traditional space model.

We deploy every necessary resource to support the development of our products, whether in propulsion or in-orbit services. Strengthened by an innovative mindset inherited from our early days, we are preparing to grow into an ambitious industrial company.

Job Description ‍

We are looking for a System Architect at our Massy site, to support the rapid growth.

Attached to the Test Engineering Team, the System Architect is a key technical leadership role responsible for defining the end-to-end architecture and ensuring the seamless integration of propulsion systems. You will act as the technical bridge between external subsystem suppliers and the final product, ensuring that all components (e.g. plasma, thermal, mechanical, electronics, fluidics) are harmonized to meet mission-critical satellite objectives.

Drawing on your experience in integrator environments, you will lead the system lifecycle from initial concept through to final qualification and launch. You are the guardian of the system's technical integrity, balancing performance, safety, reliability and cost within a high-stakes space environment.

Within your responsibilities, you will support the design, test and integration of the propulsion system in our spacevan-GEO. You will be working closely with design, engineering, manufacturing and subcontracting teams to ensure deadlines and technical specifications are met.

Your responsabilities :

Define and manage the functional, logical and physical architecture of propulsion systems as well as guarantee the compliance of the global system. You will also plan and carry out functional tests to validate propulsion system operation in near-space conditions.

Elicit, flow down and track system-level requirements and ensure traceability from mission goals to subsystem specifications.

Perform high-level design analysis including FMECA, Worst-Case Analysis (WCA) to ensure mission success.

Lead the technical relationship with external vendors. Specify, review and validate technical deliverables from subsystem suppliers to ensure compatibility with the propulsion system and satellite bus.

Define and manage Interface Control Documents (ICD) across mechanical, electrical, thermal and data interfaces.

Oversee the Integration, Verification, Validation and Qualification (IVVQ) plan. Ensure the propulsion system meets space standards through rigorous testing and analysis.

Participate in drafting integration procedures and reporting on project progress.

Provide expert technical support during Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) phases, including the management of Non-Conformance Reports (NCR) and participation in Review Boards (KO, PDR, CDR, QRR, QRB).

Preferred Experience ‍

Technical

7-10 years experiences minimum in space system engineering, with a significant background in subsystem integrators or Large System Integrators (LSI) or Tier-1 space suppliers.

Master's degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Professional fluency in English is mandatory

Deep understanding of the satellite propulsion market and the specific constraints of the space environment (vacuum, thermal, radiation).

Understand of communication standards (CAN, RS).

Strong grasp of electric and/or chemical propulsion principles and their interaction with the satellite's AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System).

Proven experience navigating the full space project lifecycle. Successfully passing international agency reviews (ESA/CNES/NASA) is a plus.

Good understanding of ECSS and NASA standards, familiarity with MIL-STD for high-reliability components.

Proficiency requirements management. Experience with MATLAB/Simulink or Python for system modelling is a nice to have.

Soft Skills

Ability to drive cross-functional teams and influence external partners.

Autonomous, proactive and capable of making critical technical decisions in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

About our recruitment process

We are committed to recruiting the right people for the right job regardless of your private background.

We meet at least three times in order to give you a better idea of what it's like to work at Exotrail:

1. Technical interview with our Talent Acquisition Manager: you will learn more about the position and our culture.

2. On-site interview with your future manager: you will discover your work environment and learn more about the required qualifications.

3. Interview with the team : you can make sure that you share the same vision and values of the company.