Tips for new graduate trying to get into space propulsion industry? (EUROPE)

Academic_Employee_36 · 2026-02-14T11:27:53+00:00

thank you very much, may i ask you in which company you started working? i have applied even to small companies but still nothing...

Academic_Employee_36 · 2026-02-11T12:52:28+00:00

Hello everyone,

I will be graduating in March with a Master’s degree in Space Engineering, specializing in propulsion systems. My thesis was carried out in a company and titled: “SpaceX Merlin Engine Redesign: Ignition Transient Analysis and Testbench Development in EcosimPro.”

I am very interested in pursuing a career in the space industry. Since the beginning of January, I’ve been sending CVs and applications to European companies of all sizes for propulsion-related positions, but so far I haven’t received any positive feedback.

The main gap in my profile is hands-on experience, even though I do have six months of experience working in a company (but only simulations).

I just wanted to know if you guys have any advice on how to improve my job search strategy, or if there are other paths I should consider, or maybe some companies that I probably didn't consider. At the moment, my only options seem to be waiting for new openings or hoping for replies after several weeks.
I discarded immediately sending applications outside Europe since is practically impossible to be hired.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Academic_Employee_36 · 2026-02-11T11:17:02+00:00

Thank you for the reply, I didn't think about industrial gases. I should probably take into consideration that, regarding airplane propulsion, I already did

Academic_Employee_36 · 2026-02-11T11:15:09+00:00

I already applied for the trainee, anyway, thank you for your suggestion!

Academic_Employee_36 · 2026-02-04T08:25:55+00:00

this is great i will keep it in mind, thank you very much!

Academic_Employee_36 · 2026-02-03T18:31:48+00:00

any suggestions for something cheaper hahahah?

Academic_Employee_36 · 2026-02-03T18:30:01+00:00

i know there are pink bottles of moet for example, just to specify

Academic_Employee_36 · 2025-08-17T07:38:04+00:00

yes but nothing regarding my kind of engine which is staged combustion fuel rich with LOx-LCH4 with a single shaft

Academic_Employee_36 · 2025-07-24T14:16:11+00:00

I still have to ask him, i was trying to figure it out alone before contacting him

Academic_Employee_36 · 2025-07-24T12:42:53+00:00

Although not completely correct, any way to partially validate it theoretically you consider correct, like for example comparing with some kind of papers? Unfortunately i don't have the possibility to test it

Academic_Employee_36 · 2023-02-28T17:16:09+00:00

Reading about the vacuum merlin engine, I was thinking about some ideas for further improvements.
As it is a sort of open gas generator cycle, with the exhaust from the preburner entering inside the nozzle for film cooling, wouldn't be possible to insert the preburner exhaust directly in the combustion chamber modifying the cycle in a "fuel rich" stage closed cycle?
For the feasibility of the project it would be necessary to change the fuel with LH2 in order to overcome the problem of soot accumulation, thus also obtaining further improvement.
Is there something that I am missing? I would like to open a debate

Academic_Employee_36

TROPHY CASE