Propulsion Engineer - Test

Astranis•San Francisco, CA

20h•$125,000 - $170,000•Onsite

About The Position

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA. As our Propulsion Engineer - Test, you will oversee propulsion component and system level test plan definition, test equipment design & build, and testing itself. A primary goal for this position is to increase the level of automation used in propulsion testing. You will work cross-functionally to ensure stakeholder and industry requirements are met while also considering cost and schedule implications of testing.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in a technical discipline (e.g. engineering, physics)
3+ years of industry experience with propulsion system testing
Including being familiar with industry and Range Safety standards and requirements
A passion for testing, including working in a fast-paced environment and doing hands-on design/development
Demonstrated ability to personally design, build, and test hardware from scratch
Must be onsite 5 days a week

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience in designing, testing, and operating spacecraft propulsion systems
Specific experience with low thrust monopropellant and green monopropellant systems
Experience with propulsion system process development including manifold manufacturing and welding
Experience with Python (Numpy, Scipy), C++, and Git
Familiarity with reading and writing technical standards
Familiarity with propellant material compatibility
Familiarity with weld and weld inspection standards and best practices

Responsibilities

Design, build, test, and qualify tests and test equipment for Astranis propulsion systems
All this with a focus on automation of tests and test equipment
Perform component and system level design, analysis, and trade studies for test equipment
Develop and execute component and system level test plans
Work closely with other teams to complete tasks
Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team.