Senior Propulsion Engineer

Job Description

The Senior Propulsion Engineer will be responsible for working directly on all aspects of the propulsion systems, from initial component and system sizing through specification, procurement, integration, test, and mission operations. You will regularly report to the Propulsion Lead on progress, as part of a joint propulsion team including the Mojave office.

Job Responsibilities:

Lead and support the design of new propulsion systems for spacecraft

Coordinate between program management and other spacecraft subsystems to assess design progress, schedule, and risks

Create conceptual and detailed designs of hypergol-based propulsion systems including tanks, valves, instrumentation, engines, and pressurization systems.

Perform high-level trade studies of the propulsion system to incorporate it into the flight vehicle architecture and integrate with other subsystems including structures, GNC, thermal, integration & test, and mission operations.

Build and run propulsion system fluid-thermal models to guide design and operational decisions

Supplier management including developing specifications for vendor supplied components, providing technical review of manufacturing processes, and assuring requirements are met via test and/or analysis

Create integration instructions, and provide support during spacecraft assembly in the cleanroom

Contribute to technical readiness and safety reviews for testing activities

Write mission operations procedures and provide real time mission operations support

Write and present technical reports

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Experience (8+ years) in propulsion system design, analysis, manufacture, integration, and test

Senior-level experience with hypergolic propulsion systems

Demonstrated ability to coordinate a technical team aligned to a common goal

Knowledge of propulsion system architecture, best practices, components, and suppliers

Experience with fluid system design and analysis software

Decision making with informed risk to properly balance quality, cost, and schedule

Component specification, vendor management, and requirements verification for components as valves, pressure vessels, pumps, thrusters, instrumentation

Ability to drive technical rigor in engineering design and verification to meet quality requirements

Performance of risk assessment and management processes

Prioritization of safety for people and equipment

Familiarity with systems engineering processes

Familiarity with propulsion system and spacecraft cleanliness standards

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

Experience with space and / or lunar systems, environments, and design considerations.

Experience with hypergolic fluids handling and safety (hands-on preferred)

Familiarity with cryogenic propellants

Specific expertise in commercial software packages for fluid-thermal modeling including Thermal Desktop and Amesim

Analytical/scientific programming (Python, C/C++, Matlab, Fortran)

Computational Fluid Dynamics (specifically Ansys FLUENT or CFX)

Familiarity with aerospace standards

Familiarity with explosive hazard calculations

Knowledge of propellant mixing, temperature control, and combustion chemistry

Understanding of pressure vessel specifications and requirements

Knowledge of Range Safety and Ground Safety requirements, and system safety processes

Test facility design, assembly, and operation

Full-time