Senior Systems Engineer - BioTech & SpaceTech

Join a deeptech company building AI-controlled biospheric systems to grow high-value plants in fully controlled environments on Earth and in orbit. Large-scale pods and compact capsules combine climate engineering, fluidics, agronomy and software to solve critical sourcing and life-support challenges. As Senior Systems Engineer (BioTech & SpaceTech), you are the reference for climate, HVAC and air/water/gas loops, at the heart of both terrestrial production pods and a space-bound plant module. Your mission: design, model and commission the thermal & fluidic systems that keep these biospheres stable, efficient and safe.

What you will do :

• Design and model the thermal and fluidic architecture of controlled-environment systems: air treatment, temperature, humidity, CO /O , pressure, fertigation and recirculating loops
• Size and specify equipment (fans, coils, exchangers, ducts, pipes, pumps, valves, tanks, filters) and produce P&IDs, schematics and technical documentation for manufacturing and integration
• Define and prototype control algorithms (in Python or equivalent) for climate, irrigation and gas dosing, then work with embedded and software teams to deploy them in the automation stack
• Work closely with mechanical engineers (layouts, structures, maintainability), embedded engineers (sensors, actuators, IO, PLCs/industrial PCs) and agronomists (plant requirements, stress strategies, yield and metabolite targets) to turn biological and product needs into robust engineered systems
• Own system-level requirements, verification plans and commissioning for thermal & fluidic subsystems on both Earth and space programs (factory pods and orbital capsules)
• Analyse data from sensors and experiments, troubleshoot issues, and iterate on design and control strategies to improve stability, performance and energy/water efficiency

Tech stack & environment :

• Systems & process: thermal / fluid systems engineering, HVAC, process utilities, P&IDs, mass/energy balances, simulations
• Modelling & control: Python for models, sizing tools and control logic prototyping; familiarity with control theory and multi-loop interactions (climate irrigation plants)
• Hardware: large-scale controlled-environment pods and compact plant-growth modules; high density of sensors and actuators; real-world constraints and safety considerations
• Teams: small cross-functional squads mixing design, mechanical, systems, embedded, software and agronomy; very close to the field (greenhouse / lab, not just office work)
• Culture: deeptech startup mode, high expectations, fast pace, strong mission focus (climate resilience, biodiversity, space exploration), direct access to decision-makers

• 5 years of exp. as a Process / Mechanical / Systems Engineer in at least one of the following : controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), aerospace life-support / cabin environment systems (ECS, ECLSS), pharma / biotech, nuclear or eq.

• Strong track record in thermal & fluid systems design: HVAC / air treatment, hydronic / process fluids, gas handling, sizing, P&IDs, commissioning.
• Solid skills in system modeling and control: you are comfortable reasoning about multi-physics systems (temperature, humidity, CO , plant transpiration, flows and storage) and designing control strategies.
• Proficiency in Python (or equivalent) for calculations, models and control prototyping; familiarity with simulation or engineering tools is a plus.
• Experience in on-site commissioning and troubleshooting of complex systems (not only design office work).
• Comfortable in a small, demanding, hardware-centric startup environment, with tight deadlines and strong ownership.

English : C1+ (Fluent or near Fluent)

• Previous exposure to plant growth systems, bioprocess, bioreactors or life-support environments.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or acting as a technical reference on projects.

Package & conditions

• Salary : €60,000 - €70,000 gross per year, depending on seniority and scope.
• Contract : full-time permanent (CDI)
• Location : Paris, on-site in a greenhouse / prototyping facility
• Remote : Mainly on-site, Few remote days on demand
• Environment : deeptech hardware startup, strong mission, direct impact on flagship industrial and space programs, role with high visibility and ownership., * Key role on a high-impact scientific and engineering mission at the intersection of climate tech, agritech and space.
• Senior position with real technical authority on thermal & fluid systems and their evolution.
• Daily work in a unique environment (futuristic greenhouse / lab) rather than a conventional office.
• Exposure to top-tier partners and ecosystems (industrial groups, research agencies, space actors) through the products you help build.

Hiring process :

Step 1 - Intro call (30 min): discussion with a product / engineering leader about your background, the company's mission and the role; mutual Q&A.

Step 2 - Technical interview (60-90 min): deep dive into your past projects (thermal/fluid systems, HVAC/process, commissioning), system design questions, and how you approach modeling and control.