Senior Propulsion Test Engineer

Axiom Space • Houston, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Axiom Space is building the world’s first commercial space station – Axiom Station. This next-generation orbital platform will serve as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, fostering groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivating a vibrant, global space economy. Axiom Space is currently the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and a developer of advanced spacesuits. The company is building era-defining space infrastructure to empower civilization to transcend Earth. Axiom Space fosters an inclusive work environment and is seeking a mission-driven, bold, and dynamic Propulsion Senior Engineer – Test. This role requires high ownership, execution horsepower, a growth mindset, and a drive to understand the world, science/technology, and life itself for the benefit of all. The Propulsion Senior Engineer - Test will own end-to-end test execution for a bipropellant engine/propulsion assembly, from translating requirements into test objectives and plans through test article integration, stand readiness, checkouts, hot-fire/qualification testing, anomaly resolution, and flight/acceptance readiness. The successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams and suppliers to deliver safely to aggressive cost and schedule targets while maintaining rigorous configuration control, test discipline, and data integrity. The ideal candidate should possess deep hands-on propulsion test operations experience, strong technical leadership, clear communication, and a bias for rapid, repeatable execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related Engineering discipline required
• 7+ years of relevant experience in propulsion test, test engineering, or propulsion development with significant hot-fire operations exposure
• Significant experience planning and executing propulsion test campaigns, including requirements flow down to test objectives, procedure development, readiness reviews, constraints management, and post-test reporting
• Hands-on experience with hot-fire test operations: test stand/GSE interfaces, propellant handling and loading, purge/vent systems, ignition sequencing, controls, and safe conduct of test
• Strong fundamentals in thermodynamics, compressible flow, heat transfer, combustion, and fluid dynamics
• Working knowledge of analysis and test-correlation toolsets such as ANSYS, Easy5, GFSSP, etc.
• Expertise in instrumentation and DAQ: sensor selection (pressure/temperature/flow/strain/accel), calibration practices, sampling/aliasing considerations, wiring/layout, and data integrity best practices
• Demonstrated sound judgment and proactive problem-solving including anomaly response, root-cause investigations, and corrective-action closure
• 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
• 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

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end propulsion test execution, from requirements flow down and test strategy through test article integration, stand readiness, hot-fire/qualification/acceptance testing, anomaly resolution, and flight readiness
• Serve as technical authority on test architecture and readiness, including instrumentation & DAQ, test stand interfaces/GSE, propellant loading/pressurization, chill down/thermal conditioning, purges/venting, ignition sequencing, controls, and safety systems
• Develop and maintain test plans, procedures, and verification matrices (ATP/OTP/qualification/acceptance), including success criteria, constraints, and configuration baselines
• Lead and support test readiness activities (TRR/FRR) including hazard analyses, permit/compliance requirements, FMEA inputs, checklists, and go/no-go criteria
• Lead and participate in test trade studies, instrumentation selection, stand upgrades, operating envelopes, control logic, acceptance limits and coordinate subassembly integration and fit checks
• Conduct test operations: briefings, procedural compliance, real-time decision-making, and safe conduct of hazardous testing
• Own anomaly response and closure: lead troubleshooting, root-cause investigations, corrective actions, and retest plans; drive disposition through configuration control
• Utilize analysis/modeling and test data reduction tools to predict performance, validate models, and ensure requirements compliance (transient performance, thermal limits, stability margins)
• Perform data reduction, correlation, and performance reconstruction — steady-state and transient — including model validation and requirements compliance verification
• Manage vendor and supplier interfaces for test hardware/GSE/DAQ/instrumentation on cost, schedule, manufacturing, calibration, and verification deliverables

Benefits

• Axiom Space fosters a work environment inclusive of all perspectives.
• Axiom Space is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom Space does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees