Nyx Crew Propulsion Engine Principal

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of high-thrust hypergolic rocket engines from concept through flight readiness.
• Lead preparation and execution of major program reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.), supporting certification activities and customer reviews.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, human-rating requirements, and quality processes throughout the product lifecycle.
• Establish engine architecture and drive key design decisions.
• Conduct trade studies, simulation, and analytical assessments to optimize engine performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Own propulsion technical requirements and contribute to long-term propulsion technology strategy and innovation roadmaps.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee engine development activities to achieve technical, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Lead development and qualification, including verification, validation, certification, and flight-readiness activities.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks, resolve anomalies, and deliver qualified flight hardware aligned with program milestones.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary propulsion team.
• Provide technical mentorship to engineers and technicians.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Lead technical interactions with suppliers, development partners, and external stakeholders, including component selection, procurement, oversight, and acceptance activities.
• Collaborate closely with systems engineering, avionics, MAIT, and program teams to ensure successful propulsion system integration.
• Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations while ensuring alignment between propulsion activities and broader vehicle development objectives.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical Design, Engineering, Engineering Technology, or similar related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant engineering experience. Relevant advanced degrees will be considered in lieu of equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing, analyzing, integrating, and testing engines for space vehicles.
• Demonstrated experience in developing human rated systems.
• Working knowledge of throttleable high thrust hypergolic engines.
• Knowledge of environmental testing, such as vibration, shock, acoustic, and/or vacuum.
• Experience working with external customers such as commercial companies and government agencies (NASA, AFRL, DARPA, etc.) and component suppliers.