Principal Propulsion Engineer  (PPMS)

Venus Aerospace•Oceanside, CA

9h•Hybrid

About The Position

Venus Aerospace is developing propulsion platforms for space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight using its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine technology. The Principal Propulsion Engineer will design, analyze, and develop Propellant & Pressure Management (PPMS) systems for mass- and volume-constrained environments, taking designs from concept through flight-maturity hardware. The role supports propulsion subsystem design, analysis, manufacturing, and testing, including full-up stage tests. The engineer will work with vehicle engineering, test teams, component teams, procurement, and outside vendors in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary setting, and communicate technical knowledge and requirements across a hybrid team. This is a full-time salaried position based in Oceanside, California, with a hybrid work arrangement and travel to Venus Aerospace headquarters in Houston, Texas. Travel is approximately three weeks per year, with additional trips possible for hardware or operational support needs. The position involves access to technology subject to U.S. export controls and requires eligibility to meet ITAR requirements.

Requirements

10+ years of aerospace vehicle and engine systems engineering or design experience.
Bachelor’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering.
Systems engineering and operational experience.
Experience working on multidisciplinary project teams.
Knowledge of standard aerospace materials used in propulsion-system designs exposed to high mechanical and thermal loads.
Knowledge of aerospace fluid-system component and fluid-connection specifications.
5+ years of CAD experience, particularly with large assemblies.
Experience with some of the following design and analysis tools: NX, SolidWorks, ANSYS Mechanical, CFX, StarCCM+, MATLAB, Python, or Microsoft Visio.
Strong communication skills to work effectively in a hybrid in-person/remote environment.
Must be able to meet U.S. ITAR requirements or be eligible to obtain required authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering.
Experience with RDREs or RDEs.
Experience with mass- and volume-constrained systems.
Project management or leadership experience.
Familiarity with Agile methods.
Strong background in systems engineering for engine or PPMS systems.
Engine or engine-component testing experience.
Familiarity with standards such as SMC-S-016, NASA STD-5012, AIAA S-080A-2018, and ANSI/ISA 5.1.
Experience developing and standardizing processes for design, analysis, and testing.
Multidisciplinary expertise in mechanical and fluid-systems design; structural and thermal design and analysis; engine testing and hot-fire data analysis; hands-on propulsion-system assembly and testing; complex CAD modeling and design for manufacturing; and first-order thermodynamic trades for system comparisons.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

Support design, analysis, manufacturing, and testing of propulsion subsystems and full-up stage tests.
Generate CAD models of components and engine systems, including detailed CAD models of engine assemblies from engine P&IDs.
Model, analyze, and design engine fluid networks; coordinate with the propulsion components team to identify commercial off-the-shelf or custom fluid-system components.
Generate P&IDs for engine systems.
Develop and execute test plans and analyze test results.
Perform systems engineering work, including engine balances, engine sizing and requirements, understanding engine cycles, and trading cycle efficiencies.
Design and analyze tanks, supporting tank structures, and PPMS.
Work with vehicle engineering and test teams to satisfy engine-system design requirements and communicate engine-system test requirements.
Work with outside vendors and in-house procurement to select and source engine and PPMS components.
Use agile methodology to break complex projects into actionable daily and weekly tasks.