Chief Engineer - Spacecraft

Gravitics•Seattle, WA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Gravitics is building an orbital transfer vehicle to carry payloads to high-energy orbits. The Chief Engineer (Spacecraft) will own the vehicle as its technical authority, leading its architecture, design, development, integration, and delivery through first flight. The role applies propulsion systems expertise to develop, manufacture, integrate, and deliver a high-delta-v, high-thrust spacecraft. It combines hands-on technical leadership with product development team leadership, supplier management, mission and spacecraft analyses, and participation in vehicle integration. The Chief Engineer will own the vehicle's system architecture, technical baseline, requirements, technical risk register, schedule, and budget. The role also leads system-level trades across propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), and software, and directs design reviews, assembly, integration and test, and flight readiness. The position serves as the vehicle's technical authority with customers, launch providers, and government partners. For propulsion, the Chief Engineer will architect a high-delta-v bipropellant system encompassing the main engine, reaction control, propellant storage and management, pressurization, and feed systems. Responsibilities include analysis and requirements definition, establishing qualification and acceptance test strategies, working with manufacturing on flight hardware, and supporting propellant loading, launch campaigns, and on-orbit propulsion operations. The role is based in Denver, Colorado, or Marysville, Washington, with a hybrid work arrangement.

Requirements

Direct experience with in-space bipropellant chemical propulsion systems, including at least one system taken from design through qualification and flight.
Demonstrated technical leadership of a spacecraft, stage, or major vehicle subsystem across its full lifecycle.
Experience technically managing an external supplier of engines, thrusters, or other complex flight hardware, including specifications, design reviews, and acceptance.
Ability to understand structural, fluid, and thermal designs from first principles.
Working knowledge of spacecraft systems engineering, including requirements, interfaces, verification, and risk management.
Familiarity with CAD and FEA packages such as NX and NASTRAN, or similar tools.
14 or more years of industry experience.
Bachelor's degree in an applicable field.

Nice To Haves

Experience with an orbital transfer vehicle, kick stage, upper stage, lander, or other high-delta-v spacecraft.
Experience designing test or flight fluid systems for high-pressure gases or liquids.
Hands-on engine or thruster hotfire test experience, including combustion devices.
Familiarity with safety-critical systems, pressure vessels, relief devices, igniters or exciters, and propellant loading operations.
Familiarity with NASA, DoD, and range safety standards for spaceflight propulsion and pressure systems.
Experience with propellant or fluid system analysis tools such as ROCETS, GFSSP, CEA, and TDK.
Experience building and leading small, high-performing engineering teams.
Experience supporting U.S. government customers and ability to obtain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

Own the orbital transfer vehicle's system architecture, technical baseline, and requirements from mission needs through subsystem and component levels.
Lead system-level trades across propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, GNC, and software, balancing performance, mass, schedule, cost, and risk.
Lead design, development, and integration, including major design reviews, vehicle assembly, integration and test, and flight readiness.
Serve as the vehicle's technical authority with customers, launch providers, and government partners.
Own the vehicle's technical risk register, schedule, and budget.
Lead anomaly investigations to root cause and ensure corrective actions are incorporated into design, build, test, and operations.
Architect a high-delta-v bipropellant propulsion system, including the main engine, reaction control, propellant storage and management, pressurization, and feed systems.
Perform and review fluids, thermal, and structural analyses to define and verify system and component behavior, including delta-v and propellant budgets.
Own detailed requirements for tanks, valves, manifolds, tubing, and thrusters.
Define qualification and acceptance test strategies, from component testing through integrated hotfire and vehicle-level testing.
Work with manufacturing to build, integrate, and accept production hardware for flight.
Support propellant loading, launch campaigns, and on-orbit propulsion operations.
Lead the product development team, manage suppliers, lead mission and spacecraft analyses, and participate in integration activities.