Job Description
Job Description
Job Summary:
The Lead Propulsion Engineer will serve as a technical leader supporting human spaceflight programs, responsible for developing, reviewing, and validating propulsion system requirements, design concepts, and analysis activities. This role ensures propulsion systems meet mission performance, safety, and reliability objectives. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with liquid propulsion systems, system integration, and the full development lifecycle from concept through flight operations, with proficiency in tools such as GFSSP and Easy5 for system modeling and analysis.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the development of propulsion system requirements, interface definitions, and verification plans.
- Oversee design, analysis, and testing of propulsion components and subsystems, including engines, tanks, valves, regulators, and feed systems.
- Use GFSSP (Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program) and Easy5 for propulsion system modeling, performance prediction, and transient analysis.
- Conduct and review propulsion performance analyses, including pressure, flow, thermal, and stability assessments.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure system-level integration across structures, avionics, and thermal systems.
- Provide technical direction, mentorship, and peer review to propulsion engineering team members.
- Support design reviews (PDR, CDR) and ensure compliance with program safety, reliability, and human-rating standards.
- Lead anomaly resolution, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
- Contribute to mission planning and support for integrated system testing and flight operations.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Propulsion Engineering.
- 8+ years of experience in propulsion system design, analysis, and testing (human spaceflight or launch vehicle experience preferred).
- Strong understanding of liquid propulsion (cryogenic, storable, or monopropellant) systems and feed system design.
- Demonstrated experience using GFSSP and Easy5 for fluid system modeling and simulation.
- Familiarity with additional tools such as CEA, NPSS, MATLAB, ANSYS, or similar analysis software.
- Experience developing and managing engineering requirements, verification, and validation documentation.
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to guide teams and influence technical direction.
- Excellent technical communication and documentation abilities.