Lead Propulsion Engineer

Wardstone•El Segundo, CA

About The Position

You will own propulsion for the company’s first two interceptor platforms, including the solid rocket motor and the divert and attitude control system (DACS). You will lead a team of more than six propulsion engineers and report to the CTO. Both systems must deliver high performance in a small, lightweight package, survive launch, storage, and flight environments, and fit within existing launcher size limits. The DACS must respond quickly and precisely enough to support terminal guidance. You will work directly with the founders and GNC, mechanical, aerodynamics, and avionics engineers, taking propulsion hardware from concept through static fire to flight. You will lead and grow the propulsion team, define its engineering standards, own propulsion architecture, schedule, and technical risks, and guide development of the solid rocket motor and DACS. You will plan and lead propulsion test campaigns, oversee the energetic-materials safety program, and lead propulsion through qualification and flight test. You will also coordinate propulsion integration with the vehicle’s mechanical, avionics, aerodynamics, GNC, and flight-software teams.

Requirements

B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering, or a related field; an M.S. is preferred.
At least 8 years of propulsion development experience, including hardware that reached static fire or flight.
Experience leading engineers or owning a major propulsion system from design through test.
Hands-on solid rocket motor development experience.
Experience with, or strong working knowledge of, fast-response thruster systems such as DACS or reaction control systems.
Strong grasp of internal ballistics, combustion, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and pressure system design.
Experience running propulsion test campaigns and safety programs for energetic materials.
Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual).
Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Propulsion experience on tactical missiles, interceptors, or kill vehicles.
Hands-on DACS or gas generator development experience.
Experience with fast-acting valves and high-pressure systems.
Experience with motor qualification, environmental testing (e.g., MIL-STD-810), or insensitive munitions testing.
Experience working with GNC on thrust models and control allocation.
Prior early-stage startup experience.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and grow the propulsion team, including hiring, setting priorities, and reviewing designs.
Set engineering standards for analysis, design reviews, test procedures, and documentation.
Own the propulsion schedule and technical risks, and communicate tradeoffs to the founders and other teams.
Define the interceptor propulsion architecture, including how the motor and DACS work together and divide the mission.
Work with GNC and aerodynamics to set propulsion requirements, including total impulse, thrust profiles, ΔV budgets, control authority, and response time.
Lead make-versus-buy decisions for propellants, motors, thrusters, and other components, and manage key propulsion suppliers.
Guide the Senior Propulsion Engineer’s solid rocket motor development, including grain, case, nozzle, and igniter design.
Review internal ballistics and performance predictions and ensure test data validates them.
Lead DACS architecture trades, comparing options such as solid gas generator, cold gas, or liquid systems.
Develop thrusters, valves, and pressure systems to meet GNC response-time and repeatability needs.
Work with GNC on thrust models, firing logic, and impulse timing for the 6DOF simulation and flight software.
Plan and lead propulsion test campaigns, including static fires, DACS hot-fire tests, and environmental tests.
Own the propulsion test safety program, including procedures for handling, storing, and testing energetic materials, and relationships with test ranges and facilities.
Lead propulsion through qualification and flight test, including pre-flight predictions and post-flight analysis.
Work with mechanical engineers on motor cases, DACS packaging, mounting, and structural loads.
Work with avionics engineers on ignition and valve control electronics, safe-and-arm devices, and safety interlocks.
Work with aerodynamics engineers on plume effects and thruster interaction with airflow.