Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer

📋 Description

• Own EP thruster integration, testing, and qualification for the spacecraft bus
• Drive thruster selection and procurement; manage performance and delivery
• Own PPU requirements and development; coordinate with electronics lead
• Design propellant feed system: tanks, valves, flow control, regulation
• Perform thruster characterization: thrust, Isp, efficiency mapping
• Develop thruster lifetime models for mission duration
• Own EP system integration with the bus: mounting, power interfaces, thermal interfaces, propellant routing
• Define EP power profiles; coordinate with power lead for all modes
• Coordinate with thermal on heat rejection; radiator sizing and duty cycle constraints
• Coordinate with GNC on thrust vector and disturbance torques
• Design orbit-raising, stationkeeping, and deorbit strategies; delta-V budgets
• Support constellation EP ops—fleet maneuver planning and propellant management
• Plan and execute EP subsystem environmental testing: vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC
• Design for production to scale EP assembly and testing

🎯 Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of electric propulsion development or integration experience
• Hall-effect thruster or ion engine experience — performance testing, plume characterization, lifetime assessment
• Propellant feed system design experience — tanks, valves, flow control
• PPU integration experience — power conditioning, thruster control electronics, power interface definition
• EP system-level integration on a flight program — mechanical, electrical, thermal, and propellant interfaces
• Understanding of EP mission design — low-thrust trajectory optimization, orbit-raising strategies, stationkeeping budgets
• Experience with EP environmental qualification — vibe, TVAC, and EMI testing of propulsion hardware
• Comfortable working across subsystem boundaries — power, thermal, GNC, and structures all intersect with propulsion

🎁 Benefits

• Company equity
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and dependents
• Generous PTO: 20+ days for exempt, 10+ days for non-exempt
• Paid parental leave
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• ClassPass credits and Spring Health mental healthcare
• On-site meals, snacks, coffee, and barista services