Electric Propulsion Engineer - Build and Flight-Qualify Advanced Electric Thrusters for High-Energy Space Missions!
El Segundo, CA | On-Site
Opportunity Summary
Join a fast-growing space technology company developing next-generation spacecraft designed to operate in high-energy orbital regimes. Founded by engineers from leading commercial launch and spacecraft programs, the team is building proprietary propulsion systems that expand what is possible in orbital mobility and mission design. We are hiring an Electric Propulsion Engineer to lead the development, validation, and integration of electric thruster hardware and supporting ground systems for upcoming flight vehicles. This is a hands-on engineering role with significant ownership. You will influence propulsion architecture, drive test campaigns, improve reliability, and work closely with manufacturing and systems teams to deliver flight-ready hardware. If you want to design propulsion systems that actually fly and shape mission capability, this is a rare opportunity to do so from concept through launch.
About Us
We are an advanced spacecraft developer focused on unlocking high-energy orbital access through proprietary propulsion innovation. Our team combines deep technical experience in spacecraft design, propulsion physics, and rapid hardware iteration. We operate with urgency, ownership, and first-principles thinking to move from design to qualified flight systems quickly and responsibly. Our vehicles support demanding commercial and national security missions where performance, reliability, and execution matter.
Job Duties
- Architect, design, and refine electric propulsion systems for flight spacecraft
- Develop and operate propulsion test infrastructure including vacuum chambers, cryogenic pumping systems, plasma diagnostics, magnetic field measurement setups, and high-voltage data acquisition and control systems
- Plan and execute qualification programs including vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and lifetime testing to validate readiness for spaceflight
- Lead root cause investigations following anomalies and implement corrective design improvements to enhance reliability and manufacturability
- Perform system-level trades evaluating mass, efficiency, cost, schedule, and reliability
- Analyze propulsion performance data using numerical tools and modeling methods to validate predictions and characterize hardware behavior
- Collaborate with manufacturing to transition designs into scalable, high-rate production
- Support spacecraft-level integration including power interfaces, avionics connectivity, harnessing, and controls
- Participate in integrated propulsion testing and hardware-in-the-loop validation efforts
- Ensure compliance with applicable government and safety standards
- Maintain full lifecycle ownership of assigned hardware from early design through flight qualification and post-test analysis
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field
- 3+ years of experience in electric propulsion research or professional development of electric propulsion systems
- Hands-on experience working with vacuum systems, plasma devices, or high-voltage hardware
- Experience designing and executing propulsion test campaigns
- Strong foundation in electromagnetism, plasma physics, thermodynamics, or related engineering disciplines
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot hardware at both component and system levels
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative engineering environment
Preferred Experience
- Deep familiarity with propulsion test facilities and vacuum chamber operations
- Experience modeling thruster performance and performing structured data reduction
- Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, C, or C++ for analysis and control applications
- Experience supporting flight qualification or high-reliability aerospace hardware programs
- Comfort operating in a startup environment with evolving requirements
Why Join Us
- Direct ownership of flight-critical propulsion hardware
- Opportunity to influence vehicle architecture and mission capability
- Fast-moving, engineering-driven culture with strong technical depth
- Room for professional growth as programs scale
- Collaborative environment working alongside experienced propulsion and spacecraft engineers
- Equity participation opportunity
Compensation Details
$120,000 - $190,000
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