Staff Propulsion Engineer
About the role
Agile Space Industries is a rapidly growing supplier of propulsion hardware and engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with expanding operations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and upcoming growth in Seattle, Washington, Agile has achieved more than 40% year-over-year growth for the past three years, and our momentum continues to accelerate.
Responsibilities
- Own hypergolic propulsion hardware from concept, detailed design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and production support.
- Lead the design and development of liquid propulsion systems and combustion devices, including engines, injectors, chambers, and propellant feed systems.
- Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers and contribute to Agile’s long-term propulsion technology roadmap.
- Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions for design and test issues.
- Prepare and review engineering documentation, requirements, specifications, and major design review packages (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.).
- Collaborate closely with structures, thermal, manufacturing, quality, and test teams to drive integrated solutions.
- Support hot-fire test campaigns, including planning, execution, data analysis, and design iteration.
- Perform system-level trade studies, performance modeling, and design optimization focused on performance, reliability, manufacturability, and thermal stability.
Requirements
- B.S. or higher degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. Equivalent experience may be considered.
- 12+ years of experience developing propulsion systems or related aerospace hardware.
- Strong background in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and combustion.
- Experience designing liquid propulsion components and systems.
- Experience supporting propulsion testing and interpreting test data.
- Experience using CAD software such as SolidWorks.
- Demonstrated ability to own hardware development from concept through testing.
Qualifications
- Recognized subject matter expertise in propulsion system design and development.
- Experience defining propulsion technology roadmaps, system architectures, or strategic technical direction.
- Proven record of leading large-scale propulsion programs or highly complex technical efforts.
- Ability to influence organizational technical direction and mentor senior engineers.
- Experience serving as a primary technical authority during customer engagements and major design reviews.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with chemical rocket propulsion systems.
- Familiarity with CFD, FEA, and propulsion system modeling tools (e.g., ANSYS, MATLAB/Simulink) to understand analysis results.
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing, machining, and casting.
- Experience working in regulated industries (e.g., aerospace, defense).
- Knowledge of combustion instabilities.
- Prior technical leadership, project ownership and/or people management experience.
Benefits
- Generous health coverage, dental and vision plans.
- Flexible Time Off.
- Parental leave.
- 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%.
Physical Requirements
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Employment Type
Exempt
Work Schedule
Full-Time
Relocation Stipend
Available for qualified candidates.
Schedule
Full-Time
Pay
The expected salary range for this role is $144,000 – $200,000 annually. Final compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, and internal equity, and is typically made within the midrange, rather than the upper end. The posted salary band reflects the compensation range for candidates located in Colorado, in compliance with Colorado state law. If you are located in another state, please contact HR to inquire about the applicable compensation band, as requirements may vary by jurisdiction.