The EPFL Rocket Team is constantly recruiting new members to reach its goals. For you, it is also the perfect opportunity to gain unique hands-on experience while meeting passionate students.
MANAGEMENT
Our sponsorship team is responsible for seeking out new sponsors while developing the relationship we have with our current partners. This requires good interpersonal skills and some sales and negotiation skills. But we are also looking for students, experienced or not, who are motivated to find new ideas to make our sponsoring services as attractive as possible.
Skills required: French and English, German a real plus. All sections of EPFL, HEC or HEIG-VD welcome.
Our communication team is responsible for promoting the association on our social networks, on the EPFL campus and in the press. It is composed of editors, a community manager and also photographers, videographers and webmasters.
Skills required for the writing team: Flawless French, good knowledge of English, and good interpersonal skills. Good extension skills. All sections of EPFL, UNIL and SAWI welcome.
Skills required for the visuals team: sense of image, skills in photo and/or video editing. All sections of EPFL, ECAL, CEPV and other schools/universities welcome.
Our logistics team is in charge of organizing our events, travels and manages the day-to-day logistics. You must be an organized person and have a car driving license. This is an opportunity to learn management and develop cross-functional skills.
Skills required: All sections of EPFL, HEC or HEIG-VD welcome. Car driving license required.
COMPETITION PROJECT
SUPERSONIC
The Avionics allows the rocket to know and send to the ground information on the rocket (position, speed, acceleration…)
According to the engine used, it can also act as intermediary between propulsion systems and some of the ground segment systems.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Embedded Systems Engineer
Description: Adapt and improve the existing flight code for new microcontrollers.
Profile/Skills: Embedded Systems, C/C++ Programming, Python, git
Role: Structure Engineer
Description: Design and manufacture a structure for the avionics module.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng.
Role: Avionics team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The purpose of the Recovery subsystem is to slow down the rocket’s fall to ensure a safe landing after its ascent.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Recovery mechanism Engineer
Description: Develop a new way to open the rocket to deploy parachutes.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng.
Role: Recovery mechanism Engineer
Description: Develop/iterate on how to deploy the parachutes.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng.
Role: Recovery team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The Structure Subsystem is in charge of designing and producing the rocket’s fuselage, as well as ensuring that it is capable of surviving mechanical and thermal stresses during supersonic flight.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Materials Engineer
Description: Research on ablative materials for application for the nosecone or potentially others.
Profile/Skills: Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng., Material Science
Role: Structure Engineer
Description: Develop an attachement system for the nosecone.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng.
Role: Structure Engineer
Description: Develop a structure for the integration of the payload.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng.
Role: Structure Engineer
Description: Research on the integration of two tanks for a bi-liquid rocket engine.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng., Thermals, FEA
Role: Structure Engineer
Description: Design a rocket motor integration structure.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng., FEA
Role: Structure Engineer
Description: Design an internal structure for the Avionics module.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng., FEA
Role: Structure Engineer
Description: To produce a manufacturing structure for carbon fiber lamination.
Profile/Skills: CAD, Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng.
Role: Structures team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The Propulsion subsystem is where the magic happens. This year we will be using a solid COTS (Commercial Of The Shelf) rocket motor so no team is needed.
If you are interested in propulsion however, have a look at our research project on the development of a bi-liquid engine further down this page.
ROLES AVAILABLE
None.
The Payload is the sub-system in charge of researching and developing the scientific experiment powered by the rocket.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Structures engineer
Description: Design and manufacturing of a structure following the CanSat standard containing the scientific experiment and the avionics of the Payload.
Profile/Skills: GM, MT, general knowledge of mechanics.
Role: Electronics engineer
Description: Adaptation/re-design of avionics for the rockets science experiment.
It will have to read sensors, record data and follow the experiment during the flight.
Profile/Skills: MT, EL, general knowledge in electronics, PCB Design and embedded systems.
Role: Payload team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The Ground Segment subsystem is in charge of all ground operations, before, during and after launch.
This includes, among others, the management of a Ground Station equipped with a radio antenna system and a 9m long launch pad.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Rocket Tracker Mechanism Engineer
Description: Fabrication of a rocket tracker driven by a machine learning algorithm using results from previous semester projects.
The work consists of redesigning the current mechanism, assembling standard components and manufacturing the designed parts.
Profile/Skills: Microtechnics, Mechanical Eng., general knowledge of structural dynamics and CAD
Role: Rocket Tracker Electronics Engineer
Description: Fabrication of a rocket tracker driven by a machine learning algorithm using results from previous semester projects.
The work consists in interfacing a maxon control board and an NVIDIA Jetson Nano development board for a real time control of the actuators.
Profile/Skills: Microtechnics, Information Systems, SysCom, general knowledge of electronics and embedded systems.
Role: Ground Segment team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The Simulation subsystem is in charge of all simulations related to the rocket in general. It is in particular flight simulations with commercial tools as well as with home-made simulators, and fluidic studies on the aerodynamics of the rocket.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Flight Simulation Operator
Description: Simulate rocket flights before each launch, using various flight simulators.
Profile/Skills: Matlab, Python, Aerodynamics
Role: Flight Simulation Engineer (improvements)
Description: Improve the flight simulator designed by the team, including new features, graphical user interface, modelling.
Profile/Skills: Matlab, Python, Aerodynamics, CFD
Role: Simulations team member
Description: As a team member, you will support other team members. You will learn/develop the following skills: rocket design, aerodynamics, rocket trajectory prediction by computer calculation.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
RESEARCH PROJECTS
ICARUS
The Landing section of the Icarus project is mostly run by the semester project on this topic, but help is always welcome!
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Landing team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
TheDrone section of the Icarus project is mostly run by the semester project on this topic, but help is always welcome!
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Drone team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The Sounding rocket section of the Icarus project is mostly run by the semester project on this topic, but help is always welcome!
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Sounding rocket team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The Hopper section of the Icarus project is mostly run by the semester project on this topic, but help is always welcome!
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Hopper team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The Test Facilities section of the Icarus project aims to assist in the design and manufacture of a test facility for the bi-liquid engine that is currently under development. These test facilities will be designed in partnership with the Bi-Liquid project to ensure that it will be possible to collect useful data during future firings in a safe manner.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Test Facilities team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
The Simulator section of the Icarus project is mostly run by the semester project on this topic, but help is always welcome!
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: Simulator team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
BI-LIQUID
This section of the Bi-Liquid project is the section in charge of the design and construction of a new bi-liquid engine for the EPFL Rocket Team.
This engine will use cryogenic liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidizer and Kerosene (or derivative) or ethanol as fuel.
This first engine will be used on a test bench, and has as an objective to be manufactured in majority by the team.
ROLES AVAILBLE
Role: Fluid control Engineer
Description: Selection and implementation of valves and actuators for the control of all fluids during a combustion chamber firing sequence
Profile/Skills: MT-RO, GM, general knowledge of fluid management and commercial components
Role: Propellant Injection Engineer
Description: Selection of the solution for the injector and the engine manifold, design and testing (characterization) of the assembly.
Profile/Skills: MT-RO, GM, general knowledge of fluid dynamics, good CAD experience
Role: Combustion Chamber and Nozzle Engineer
Description: Combustion chamber sizing based on nominal design performance. Assembly design, FEA simulations and calculations for design validation, and testing.
Profile/Skills: MT-RO, GM, good experience in structural calculations, FEA and CAD
Role: CFD et FEA Simulation Engineer
Description: CFD and FEA thermal simulations of designs.
Profile/Skills: MT-RO, GM, PHY, good experience with CFD and thermal FEA
Role: Ignition System Engineer
Description: Engine ignition solution selection, design, manufacturing and testing.
Profile/Skills: MT-RO, GM, PHY, general knowledge in chemistry, fluid dynamics and electronics
Role: Engine Model Engineer
Description: Creation of an accurate physical model of the engine taking into account its functional dimensions and the behaviour of the fluids. The objective is to explore the different regimes of the engine and to analyse its frequency response.
Profile/Skills: MT-RO, GM, PHY, some MATLAB experience, with a preference for SIMULINK
Role: Test control software Engineer
Description: Development of the program that will links the motor’s sensors outputs and actuators through automation, during tests. Motor ignition/extinction sequencing and controller design will also be part of the process.
Profil/Compétences: MT-RO, INF experience in programming (language not yet defined, can be C, C++, python, or LabVIEW), knowledge of actuators control and sensors, and basics of controller design.
Role: Propulsion team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
One of the most critical aspects in the development of a bi-liquid rocket engine is the test area. It must be robust, secure, and highly functional to ensure the safety of users even in the event of a major engine problem.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Role: test Bench Engineer
Description: Development of a test bench for a bi-liquid engine. The objective is to design and manufacture a solid test bench that meets precise specifications.
Profile/Skills: MT, GM, general engineering knowledge in structural mechanics and/or manufacturing
Role: Video acquisition Engineer
Description: Development of a video acquisition system for the test space. This one will be composed in majority of commercial components and will allow the users to keep an eye on the progress of the tests while remaining protected.
Profile/Skills: MT, SysCom, IN, general engineering knowledge in electronics or video systems
Role: Control Room Engineer
Description: Development of a control room for the test facilities. This will be done in parallel with another semester credit project.
Profile/Skills: MT, SysCom, IN, general engineering knowledge in electronics
Role: Test Facilities team member
Description: As a team member, you support other team members in design or manufacturing.
Profile/Skills: General engineering knowledge
FORMATION PROJECT
SPACE RACE
This project involves building a relatively simple rocket in teams of 5-7 students. This project allows to learn the basics of rocketry while learning to work in a team. It is mostly aimed to the first and possibly second year students of EPFL.
All sections are welcome.
START YOUR SPACE CARRIER - COMPETITION
Gain experience and credibility
through credited projects and industry training, while gaining internship opportunities and referrals.
Meet your future employer
at one of our events where you will have the opportunity to talk with sponsors and partners in the space industry.
Expand your network
by meeting employees and contractors active in the space industry as well as talented students from our projects.
LEARN IN A SAFE SPACE - SPACE RACE
Take advantage of ERT’s
unique infrastructure: a large and secure workshop, dedicated mentors and state-of-the-art technology to ensure the best possible learning experience.
Meet your mentor
who will help your team throughout the year to enhance your learning experience and ensure that your rocket is well built, safe and will fly successfully.
Earn certifications
related to rocket machining, manufacturing or design: you will benefit from several workshops and launches to obtain them throughout your year of learning.
No pressure during the year.
You will have a little competition just for fun, and you are here to learn. But you are welcome to join the competition team after your training year.
BECOME A PIONEER - RESEARCH DIVISION
Create your innovations
and participate in crazy challenges, like our Icarus project: be the first student team to land its rocket like SpaceX.
Unleash your potential
by getting space to test all your cool, crazy and experimental ideas on one of our rocket related projects.
Not sure if you want to participate in a project for an entire academic year? Consider choosing one of our credited semester projects! Each year, we offer many projects, in all fields, already followed by EPFL professors. Find yours!