Concept Design Engineer

X-Bow Systems•Huntsville, AL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Concept Design Engineer at X-Bow Systems, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of solid rocket motor systems, ranging from small tactical to large strategic motors. This position is at the forefront of program development, where your technical judgment, creativity, speed, and systems-level thinking will directly influence customer decisions, proposals, and future program baselines. You will support business development and active programs by translating customer needs into credible technical concepts, conducting trade studies, performing performance analysis, developing preliminary designs, and contributing to proposal efforts. Success in this role hinges on a strong understanding of propulsion systems and the ability to effectively balance mission requirements, customer priorities, performance, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and technical risk. This is a high-impact role within a small, dynamic team. You will leverage industry-standard tools, internal codes, engineering fundamentals, and practical judgment to rapidly and accurately develop concepts that guide customer discussions, shape opportunities, and anticipate future program challenges. Collaboration with X-Bow's design, analysis, manufacturing, business development, and program teams is essential to ensure that early concepts are technically sound and executable. An effective Concept Design Engineer can maintain technical discipline while working at a fast pace. The ideal candidate possesses at least 5 years of directly related industry or academic experience and can adeptly manage both a system-level perspective and the critical details that drive design.

Requirements

At least 5 years of directly related industry or academic experience.
Fundamental understanding of propulsion systems.
Ability to balance mission requirements, customer priorities, performance, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and technical risk.
Solid Rocket Motor Design & Analysis: Own SRM mechanical design, internal ballistics analysis, material selection.
Working knowledge of industry standard ballistic analysis tools.
Experience in CAD software (Solidworks/NX/Creo).
Trajectory Analysis: Develop and analyze tactical, ballistic, suborbital and orbital launch vehicle trajectories for rail launch and TVC guided systems.
Dispersions and fault analysis capability/understanding required.
3DoF and 6DoF analysis with POST2/POST3D and/or TAOS.
Systems Engineering: Translate customer and mission needs into clear requirements, architecture, interfaces, and verification approaches.
Experience leading multidisciplinary trade studies across propulsion, structures, aerodynamics, operations, manufacturing, cost, schedule, risk, and performance to support executable concept and program baselines.
Weights & Sizing: Develop and analyze launch vehicle sizing and mass properties estimates to support both conceptual and detailed design.
Technical writing: Ability to develop clear, accurate, and technical content for proposals, white papers, trade studies, and customer briefings.
Programming: Working knowledge of MATLAB, Python, and/or FORTRAN.
Communication: Clearly communicate complex engineering concepts, assumptions, risks, and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences.
Bachelor's Degree or higher in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Support business development and active programs by translating customer needs into credible technical concepts.
Conduct trade studies, performance analysis, and develop preliminary designs.
Provide proposal inputs.
Develop concepts quickly and accurately to guide customer conversations, shape opportunities, and anticipate future program challenges.
Work cross-functionally with design, analysis, manufacturing, business development, and program teams.
Own SRM mechanical design, internal ballistics analysis, and material selection.
Develop and analyze tactical, ballistic, suborbital and orbital launch vehicle trajectories for rail launch and TVC guided systems.
Translate customer and mission needs into clear requirements, architecture, interfaces, and verification approaches.
Lead multidisciplinary trade studies across propulsion, structures, aerodynamics, operations, manufacturing, cost, schedule, risk, and performance.
Develop and analyze launch vehicle sizing and mass properties estimates.
Develop clear, accurate, and technical content for proposals, white papers, trade studies, and customer briefings.
Clearly communicate complex engineering concepts, assumptions, risks, and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences.