Senior Engineer (Engineer III) / Principal Engineer (Engineer IV) – Propulsion

Quantum Space•Rockville, MD

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Quantum Space, located in Rockville, Maryland, is seeking Senior Engineers (Engineer III)/Principal Engineers (Engineer IV) in Propulsion to lead the development of advanced flight-qualified propellant tanks and chemical/electric spacecraft propulsion systems. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer capable of leading technical teams, owning component/system development efforts, and delivering hardware through rapid development cycles. Position level and salary will be evaluated based on years of experience, relevant skillsets, proven leadership, and depth of subject matter expertise. The successful candidate will serve as a lead for propellant tank development or spacecraft propulsion systems. Scope of responsibility and technical leadership will scale based on experience, demonstrated expertise, and position level.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
7+ years of relevant engineering experience (for Senior Engineer)
Demonstrated ability to lead teams of 3+ engineers to major project milestones (for Senior Engineer)
Demonstrated leadership capability for low-to-medium complexity project (for Senior Engineer)
Recognized as a trusted technical expert within a project team or engineering group (for Senior Engineer)
Experience managing technical schedules and budgets (for Senior Engineer)
10+ years of relevant engineering experience (for Principal Engineer)
Demonstrated ability to lead teams of 6+ engineers to major project milestones (for Principal Engineer)
Established technical leadership of medium-to-high complexity projects (for Principal Engineer)
Recognized technical authority across programs or organizations (for Principal Engineer)
Experience with design, analysis, fabrication, testing, and integration of propellant tanks
Experience meeting tank design standards and meeting range safety requirements
Understanding different propellant management approaches in a low-gravity environment and propellant slosh
Understanding propellant tank welding – especially of how to evaluate quality of welds
Experience with design, analysis, fabrication, testing, integration and operations of spacecraft propulsion systems
Experience meeting pressure vessel and systems design standards and range safety requirements
Experience interfacing with other spacecraft systems
Understanding typical technologies and propellants used for spacecraft propulsion systems
Understanding how to architect a spacecraft propulsion system
Understanding challenges and solutions in the assembly and testing of propulsion systems as part of a spacecraft AI&T campaign
U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State

Nice To Haves

3+ years leading engineering project teams to deliver propellant tanks or spacecraft propulsion systems
Experience in fast-paced aerospace or startup environments
Systems engineering experience, including requirements and verification planning
Lean Six Sigma or project management training/certifications
Experience applying AI-enabled engineering tools
Experience leading teams through rapid hardware development cycles
Spacecraft systems expertise outside propulsion
Subject matter expertise for typical propulsion components

Responsibilities

Lead development of propellant tanks or complex spacecraft propulsion systems
Provide technical direction across design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, qualification, integration, and flight operations
Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver products on schedule and within budget
Serve as a propulsion subject matter expert
Drive architecture decisions and propulsion trade studies
Manage technical program execution, risk reduction, and long-range planning
Support customer interactions, technical reviews, and executive-level program updates
Mentor/coach engineers across multiple experience levels and disciplines
Support organizational development of propulsion engineering standards and best practices
Lead resolution of critical technical and programmatic issues