Senior Propulsion Engineer (Chemical)

1w1 week ago

Apex - Spacecraft Manufacturing

Los Angeles, US · Full-time · $142,000 – $192,000

About this role

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the aerospace industry. Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and manufacturing-designed hardware. These platforms hold customer payloads for launch vehicles, enabling earth observation, communications, and more.

Apex seeks a seasoned Senior Propulsion Engineer (Chemical) for our closely integrated team. You will drive chemical propulsion system development from clean-sheet design, guiding architecture, integration, and testing. As the first chemical propulsion engineer, you will build capabilities, team, and infrastructure from the ground up.

Day-to-day involves designing, building, and testing propulsion systems alongside infrastructure and facilities. You will develop specifications, maintain Technical Performance Metrics, and create test plans. Collaborate cross-functionally to integrate with electrical, thermal, and structural subsystems while troubleshooting manufacturing anomalies.

Interface directly with customers and suppliers, lead investigations, and ensure design for manufacturability. Contribute to proposals and business development. Join our mission providing humankind access to the galaxy in a work environment you look forward to embracing every day.

Requirements

U.S. Person status required to access export controlled data
Bachelor's degree in mechanical, propulsion, or other aerospace-related engineering discipline
6+ years of propulsion design and test experience
Experience with mono and bi-propellant chemical propulsion systems
Experience with handling and testing pressurized systems
Demonstrated history of designing fluidic systems, fluid system instrumentation, and control components (i.e. tanks, regulators, pressure transducers, thermocouples, solenoid valves, etc.)
Experience with CAD software (NX, SolidWorks)
Working knowledge of manufacturing in a clean environment and following AS9100 protocols

Responsibilities

Design, build, and test chemical propulsion systems
Design and build propulsion infrastructure and test facilities
Design propulsion system architecture, develop product specifications, and maintain Technical Performance Metrics (TPMs)
Develop qualification and acceptance test plans and support testing
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate propulsion systems with other subsystems (e.g., electrical, thermal, structure)
Troubleshoot anomalies during manufacturing, lead investigation efforts, and ensure design for manufacturability (DFM)
Directly interface with customer/supplier relationships, conduct analyses, and provide support as necessary
Contribute to proposals and business development efforts

Benefits

Work in a closely integrated team driving spacecraft innovation
Build propulsion capabilities, team, and infrastructure from the ground up
Contribute to mission providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet
Embrace a work environment you look forward to every day