Project Engineer
Stellant Systems Inc. (Stellant) is seeking an onsite Project Engineer to join the Space Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) group in Torrance, California. Stellant’s industry-leading space TWTs, Electronic Power Conditioners (EPCs), and Microwave Power Modules (MPMs) support spacecraft mission needs with over 4,700 TWTs in orbit and 290 million operating hours. Terrestrial TWTs and MPMs support critical applications for RF communications, electronic warfare (EW), and radar, producing approximately 2,000 units annually.
About the Role
As a member of the TWT team, you will support technical efforts in production, development, and continuous improvement. You will provide oversight and technical support throughout the product lifecycle, including development, procurement, manufacturing, testing, and customer support. Opportunities exist to work across Stellant’s Space or Terrestrial TWT/EPC/MPM areas, with career progression in multiple directions. You may also support Business Development, Proposals, and Program Management functions.
Responsibilities
- Observe, evaluate, and troubleshoot existing production problems.
- Develop an overarching understanding of manufacturing and testing processes for vacuum hardware and RF/TWT/MPM testing.
- Lead engineering efforts and support operations personnel on day-to-day production needs.
- Support program management on technical issues and customer relations.
- Work as a key member of a multidisciplinary engineering team to develop or troubleshoot designs to meet performance, cost, and schedule metrics.
- Support bid and proposal activities, including analyzing customer specifications to evaluate feasibility and cost.
- Anticipate and translate customer needs into engineering metrics.
- Specify components and/or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design and performance specifications.
- Communicate effectively with vendors, customers, and other Stellant personnel.
- Perform modeling and design engineering tasks on current or future products.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in physics or an engineering discipline is required; a master’s degree is a plus.
- Relevant engineering experience in production or development support, electromechanical design, radar or RF systems, electron beam or vacuum equipment, systems, or project engineering is preferred. Years required per level:
- Level III: minimum of 4 years
- Level IV: minimum of 6 years
- Level V: minimum of 9 years
- Project or system engineering with hands-on experience preferred.
- Knowledge of the design, manufacturing, or testing of RF and/or vacuum technologies is a significant plus, with emphasis on TWTs.
- Experience with engineering drawings or CAD software.
- Manufacturing experience is a plus, particularly in dispenser cathodes, vacuum hardware, brazing, RF systems, system integration, and mechanical packaging.
- Understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles is a plus.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting to internal and/or external customers.
- Experience interpreting customer specifications into test requirements and comparing against test data.
- Ability to work well in a team environment with individuals from various areas of the company (e.g., program managers, engineers, business development, senior management, manufacturing, and test personnel).
- Understanding of computer modeling and simulation is a plus.
- Computer programming skills are a plus.
- Previous experience in root cause analysis is a bonus.
- Proficiency using Microsoft Office applications is necessary.
- Active or previous security clearance is preferred.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or a protected individual as defined by ITAR to conform to U.S. Government export regulations.
Pay
$95,000–$170,000/year, depending on experience and level.