Systems Engineer, R&D Project Lead

Alongside its own development programmes, ArcSpace leads work in collaborative European R&D projects with industrial and research partners. We are looking for a systems engineer with experience leading collaborative R&D projects to run this work day to day, from hardware development and testing to demonstration, and to take a hands-on role in integration and testing.

You will:
• Lead ArcSpace's work in collaborative projects: planning, task coordination, risk tracking and progress reporting.
• Own the technical baseline: requirements, interfaces with partners, verification and test plans.
• Coordinate the contributions of ArcSpace engineers and research partners.
• Take part in integration, test campaigns and data analysis.
• Write technical deliverables and present results at project reviews.
• Contribute to new development programmes and funding proposals.

REQUIREMENTS
• PhD, or Master-level engineering degree with 5+ years of experience, in aerospace, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, robotics or physics.
• Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating a collaborative R&D project (EU, ESA, CNES or equivalent), including deliverables and reporting.
• Systems engineering practice: requirements, interface control, verification and validation planning.
• Hands-on experience with experimental hardware and test campaigns.
• Clear technical writing and presentation skills.
• English proficiency C1.
• Eligibility to work in the EU.

Nice to have
• Experience working with space robotics, guidance and control, or contact dynamics.
• Knowledge in electron beam, welding, vacuum or plasma processes.
• Knowledge of ECSS standards and space project reviews.
• Experience with defence or dual-use R&D.
• Working proficiency in French.

Why work at ArcSpace
• A central technical role in a fast-growing European space startup.
• The chance to bring a novel in-space manufacturing technology from the lab to orbit.
• Competitive compensation.
• Close collaboration with an ambitious and driven team and its research partners.
• Company values: Fairness – Efficiency – Excellence – Teamwork.

ArcSpace is committed to building a diverse team and particularly encourages women to apply. We encourage you to apply even if you believe you do not meet all the criteria. A positive attitude, courage and willingness to learn are valued as much as hard skills.

ArcSpace develops the tools that will build and maintain the next generation of space infrastructure. In-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing will change how spacecraft are designed, operated and retired, and each of them depends on the ability to join, cut and assemble structures directly in orbit.

ArcSpace's core technology is an electron beam process adapted to the space environment, which uses the vacuum of space to carry out these operations. Its first applications serve in-orbit servicing, and the same technology then scales towards the assembly of large structures in orbit and on the Moon. ArcSpace is supported by ESA and CNES, works with European industrial and research partners, and is preparing its first in-orbit demonstrations.