Propulsion & Control Engineer

The position of Propulsion & Control Engineer places you at the heart of Destinus’s effort to deliver an exo‑atmospheric interceptor for the Bliksem Exo consortium, a four‑nation European partnership developing an anti‑ballistic missile system. Destinus focuses on cutting‑edge unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced defense solutions for government and military customers worldwide, aiming for high performance, affordability and scalable production. In this role you will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of the terminal control propulsion subsystem, from conceptual architecture and performance sizing to actuation, thermal and structural integration, and final qualification testing. You will design rapid‑response actuation mechanisms that meet strict thrust, response‑time and precision criteria, translate performance predictions into measured hardware results, and manage technical interactions with propulsion and actuation suppliers. Planning and executing bench, environmental and qualification test campaigns—including rig setup, instrumentation, data analysis and verification—will be a core part of your daily work, as will close collaboration with guidance‑navigation‑control, mechanical, systems and other engineering groups to ensure subsystem compatibility within the interceptor. The role requires a hands‑on engineer with a BSc, MSc or PhD in aerospace, mechanical or a related discipline, and at least ten years of experience in rocket, spacecraft or missile propulsion where you have owned hardware design, build and test. Direct experience with fast‑response actuation devices such as valves or thrusters, strong testing expertise, and a solid grasp of propulsion physics, thermal behavior and material limits in high‑pressure environments are essential. Proficiency in quantitative analysis and sizing using Python or MATLAB is also mandatory. Additional strengths include familiarity with divert and attitude control, reaction‑control or interceptor systems, and a background working on multi‑company or multinational engineering programmes. The environment values rapid decision‑making, data‑driven challenge of assumptions, and seamless cross‑disciplinary communication, offering the chance to shape pioneering aerospace technology in a globally collaborative setting.