Propulsion Engineer – Engine Lead

Axiom Space•Houston, TX

About The Position

Axiom Space is guided by the vision to build era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy for the benefit of every human everywhere. Axiom Space is the leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit. Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station – a permanent commercial destination in low-Earth orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. Axiom Space fosters a work environment inclusive of all perspectives. We are the pioneers of commercial space, leading the transformation of low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace. Our mission-driven team is seeking a bold and dynamic Propulsion Engineer – Engine Lead who is fueled by high accountability, execution horsepower, and driven to understand our world, science/technology, and life itself, for the benefit of all on Earth and beyond. POSITION SUMMARY We are looking for a resilient, high-energy, experienced Propulsion Engineer - Engine Lead to own the end-to-end technical execution of a bipropellant engine assembly from requirements definition through design, build, integration, test, and flight readiness. You will lead cross-functional teams and suppliers to deliver to aggressive cost and schedule targets while maintaining safety and configuration discipline. The ideal candidate combines deep hands-on propulsion hardware experience with strong technical leadership, clear communication, and a bias for execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics required
10+ years of relevant experience
Experience leading technical teams
Expertise in combustion, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics including familiarity with corresponding analysis toolsets such as ANSYS, Easy5, Fluent, GFSSP, TDK
Significant experience with engine/thruster design, development, qualification, and integration
Propulsion component experience including injectors, combustion chambers, nozzles, igniters, thermal management features and interfaces to valves/instrumentation/etc
Experience developing and executing test campaigns, including test planning, instrumentation selection, and data correlation
3D modeling software knowledge, SolidWorks is preferred
Track record of making things happen in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
Uses good judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges
Demonstrated organization skills to meet tight deadlines with high quality results
Passion for space and the mission
Entrepreneurial, growth mindset
High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally
Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster
Embody our core values of leadership, innovation, and teamwork.
Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation
Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position
Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end technical execution of a bipropellant engine assembly from requirements through design, build, integration, test, and flight readiness.
Subject Matter Expert in engine and nozzle design, providing technical authority on architecture, sizing, fluid/thermal/structural analyses, materials/manufacturability, and performance optimization across the full development lifecycle.
Technical lead responsible for delivering performance, safety, cost, and schedule targets.
Plan and delegate work across team members and cross-functional teams, lead daily standups, and escalate risks, issues, and blockers to ensure timely execution.
Plan, schedule, prioritize and execute team scope and goals to meet critical milestones.
Provide technical leadership and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
Lead and participate in design and gate reviews with internal and external stakeholders.
Lead and participate in trade studies, component selection, subassembly design and integration, analyses and tests, and vendor/supplier coordination.
Utilize modeling, analysis, and simulation tools to estimate system performance and ensure compliance.
Manage and interface with external vendors on cost, schedule, design, manufacturing, and verification activities.
Communicating project progress, status, and potential issues to stakeholders and leadership.
Implementing and maintaining agile project management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle.
Perform additional job duties as assigned.