Embedded power systems engineer
Alpha Impulsion Toulouse, Occitania, France
Space Research and Technology · 11-50 employees
About the role
You will be responsible for the design of embedded power electronics for the AMBER demonstrator, including batteries, power distribution, and engine control units. Additionally, you will collaborate with European suppliers and the systems engineering team to ensure successful integration and testing of propulsion avionics.
What they look for
Requirements
A Master's degree in aerospace or a related field is required, along with at least three years of hardware experience in projects like drones, satellites, or launchers. Candidates must possess hands-on expertise in power electronics, PCB design, and systems architecture, alongside strong leadership and communication skills.
Benefits
Full description
By joining Alpha Impulsion as an Embedded power systems engineer in the Toulouse office, you will play a key role in the development of AMBER, Alpha Impulsion's small scale autophage demonstrator for suborbital flight and in-space propulsion.
Reporting to the Chief Product Officer, you will be responsible for the design of the AMBER embedded power electronics, spanning from on-board batteries, power distribution , Electronic Speed Controller and subsystem integration.
You will embark on a young project, with the opportunity to build it from start to qualification and exploitation.
Your first project here
Alpha Impulsion is developing a small-scale engine for its demonstrator AMBER. Its goal is to derisk at small scale technologies to be used in the future OPAL engine for in-space activities & GARNET engine for launch vehicles. The results of this demonstration might change the way mini launchers are built, demonstrating performance up to twice that of current propulsion technologies.
Your key responsibilities
As part of your missions, you will be entrusted with the following responsibilities:
- Contribute to the overall design of the design of the propulsion system avionics. This includes the Engine Control Unit, the Electrical Power System and the data acquisition system. These systems will be tested first during engine hot-fire tests.
- Define the overall power architecture and ensure adequate system’s integration in AMBER, taking into account thermal, volume and EMC constraints.
- Contribute to the design of AMBER's avionics, including data acquisition, tracking, telemetry, command, as well as flight systems sequencing (recovery, engine command) and interfaces with the ground segment.
- Design ground interfaces (ground operations, safety checks, data acquisition).
- In collaboration with the System Engineering Team, participate in the various avionics test definition (acceptance, subsystem preliminary tests, firing tests, launch), and ensure that the tests are built for requirements validation.
- Collaborate with supplier around Europe on the development of specific systems (batteries, PDCU, ESC). Build partnerships and manage the system’s procurement.
What we would appreciate most
Required education, experience and skills
- Master’s degree in aerospace or equivalent.
- At least three years of demonstrated hardware experience on projects such as robots, drones, satellites or launchers .
- Hands-on experience with the specificities of power electronics, including EMC, resistive heating, etc.
- Experience in systems architecture definition, PCB design, microcontroller and FPGA.
- Demonstrated leadership skills, with previous experience managing a team and ability to report in traceable technical documentation.
- Comfortable with a startup environment and Agile frameworks.
- Professional English required.
Would be a plus
- Experience in embedded systems design, including real-time systems (deterministic behaviour, fault tolerance, redundancy), control theory (feedback loops), data processing (acquisition, sensors data retrieval & processing).
- Italian and/or French speaking.
Compensation & advantages
Base salary negotiable based on experience. Additionally, competitive compensation package including meal vouchers, holidays vouchers, 75% public transport reimbursement (versus the usual 50%), sustainable mobility package “Forfait Mobilité Durable”, IT material compensation, team performance bonus. Flexible remote work organisation.
If you thrive on challenge, take on a new one and join the crew.