Project Description:

The student will work on a project to design an electrically actuated valve suitable for a small rocket engine. These valves hold a critical place in any rocket engine, and its design must be both compact and lightweight. It must also meet a range of technical and safety requirements. Within the project, the candidate could be asked to contribute to the following areas:

• Mechanical design of valve system        

• Electrical actuation

• Fluidic modelling of valve

• Manufacturing/modification of COTS components for breadboard modelling

The student will be responsible for using computer-aided design (CAD) software to create detailed drawings and models. The design will be driven by simulation and analysis, and learnings from testing of any prototypes produced. They will use both programming tools (MATLAB), as well as a range of software packages likely including:

• CFD (Ansys Fluent / CFX)

• FEA (Ansys Mechanical)

• CAD (Solidworks / NX / Fusion360 / Ansys SpaceClaim)

Applicant Specification:

Academic:

• 3rd / 4th year student or above (MSc, PhD, etc.) working towards a degree in Aerospace engineering, Mechatronics engineering, or similar

• Experience with CFD and/or FEA software desired

Minimum requirements:

• Proficient in the use of CAD software, such as Solidworks / Fusion360

• Strong problem-solving skills

• Ability to work in a team environment

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Software skills, including experience with MATLAB

Desirable requirements:

• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment

• Familiarity with industry standards and design practices

• Passion for space and a strong desire to learn and grow professionally

• Understanding of systems engineering tools

• Understanding of rocket propulsion systems, valve types, and valve actuation methods

Process details:

• 8 weeks minimum fixed term contract to be agreed with the successful candidate

How we work:

Astron Systems Ltd was founded in April 2021 with the mission of bringing about the next generation of low-cost, highly reusable launch vehicles suitable for flexible and dramatically more affordable launch of small satellites. The company was founded after frustration at the lack of full reusability or efforts to develop full reusability in the global small payload launch market, especially within Europe and the UK.

We strongly believe it is inevitable that fully reusable launch systems are the future of space access, for all payload classes; and that expendable or partially expendable launch vehicle services, whether currently flying or in development by other companies, are therefore not commercially viable in the long-term when compared to the potential of fully reusable launch systems. We are advised by a range of space and academic professionals all of whom are top experts presently involved in the emerging new space industry in Europe and on the global stage.

This job description set outs the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self-select out of the process. If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you didn’t tick.

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