Propulsion Staff Engineer – Thruster Systems

Axiom Space•Houston, TX

About The Position

Axiom Space is building the world’s first commercial space station – Axiom Station. Serving as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, this next-generation orbital platform fosters groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivates the vibrant, global space economy of tomorrow. Today, driven by the vision of leading humanity's journey off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and low-Earth orbit. Axiom Space is building era-defining space infrastructure that will empower our civilization to transcend Earth for the benefit of every human, everywhere. 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 Staff Engineer – Thruster Systems who is fueled by high ownership, execution horsepower, growth mindset, 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 Staff Engineer – Thruster Systems to own the end-to-end technical execution of a bipropellant thruster 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 Aerospace, Mechanical, or related Engineering discipline required; advanced degree preferred
10+ years of relevant experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion, with demonstrated depth in thruster or liquid rocket engine design and development
Significant hands-on experience with engine/thruster design, development, qualification, and integration — including injectors, combustion chambers, nozzles, igniters, and thermal management interfaces
Expertise in combustion, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics with demonstrated application to thruster performance and thermal analysis
Experience developing and executing test campaigns including test planning, instrumentation selection, and data correlation
Propulsion component experience spanning valves, filters, regulators, manifolds, and instrumentation interfacing with thruster assemblies
3D modeling software experience: SolidWorks preferred
Grit
Passion for space and the mission
Entrepreneurial, growth mindset
Perseverance
Resourceful, adaptable
Executes priorities with precision and pace
High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally
Tech-savvy in using systems and tools to move faster and smarter
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Embody our core values of leadership, innovation, and teamwork.
Accountability
Sense of Urgency
Extreme Ownership
Execution and Delivery
Efficiency
Effectiveness
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

Owns the end-to-end technical execution of bipropellant thruster assemblies including combustion chambers, injectors, nozzles, igniters, and associated valves/instrumentation – from requirements through, design, build, integration, test and flight readiness.
Serve as a subject matter expert in thruster design, providing technical authority on system architecture, sizing, fluid/thermal/structural analyses, materials/manufacturability, and performance optimization across the full development lifecycle.
Perform detailed modeling, analysis and simulation of thruster assemblies using tools such as ANSYS, Fluent, TDK, CEA, etc to evaluate combustion performance, thermal effects, structural margins and transient behaviors.
Perform component sizing and selection for thruster assemblies, ensuring compatibility with performance, thermal, structural, safety and compatibility requirements.
Design, plan and execute thruster development, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns define instrumentation requirements, execute test planning and perform data correlation to anchor and validate analytical models.
Lead and participate in internal and external design and gate reviews, trade studies, and subassembly integration activities; ensure compliance with system requirements and program milestones
Coordinate and manage technical requirements and design verification activities with external vendors and suppliers, interface on cost, schedule, design, manufacturing, and acceptance
Lead and participate in trade studies, component selection, and subassembly design and integration analyses in support of thruster development programs
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to less experienced engineers
Responsible for delivering against performance, safety, cost, and schedule targets