Senior Propulsion Engineer, Design (Combustion Devices)

Skill Requirements

• Hands-on combustion device design
• Regenerative cooling design
• CEA proficiency
• Combustion instability expertise
• High-temperature alloys
• Additive manufacturing
• CAD proficiency with engineering drawing generation to GD&T standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 8+ years of professional experience in liquid rocket engine or thruster development
• Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (preferred)
• Experience designing, building, testing, and qualifying thruster or engine components through hot-fire, cold-flow, and leak/checkout campaigns
• Direct team leadership and mentorship of junior propulsion engineers
• Familiarity with the full vehicle lifecycle from concept through production
• Track record of innovative problem-solving in complex mechanical and thermodynamic design challenges

Prior Experience

• Experience designing injectors, combustion chambers, regen nozzles, valves, and nozzle extensions
• Practical experience sizing and validating regen cooling circuits for thrust chambers, including thermal margin and pressure drop analysis
• Demonstrated experience running NASA CEA (or equivalent) to predict propellant performance, O/F sensitivity, and nozzle expansion trade studies
• Familiarity with acoustic combustion instability modes and experience designing acoustic cavities or other suppression features
• Experience designing and specifying hardware in Inconel, Haynes, or other high-temperature superalloys for propulsion applications
• Experience leveraging AM (SLM, DMLS, or equivalent) in the design and development of propulsion hardware
• Operational experience in aerospace build, integration, and test environments

Preferred Skills

• Experience in a startup or similarly resource-constrained, high-tempo environment
• Direct team leadership and mentorship of junior propulsion engineers
• Familiarity with the full vehicle lifecycle from concept through production
• Track record of innovative problem-solving in complex mechanical and thermodynamic design challenges