Senior Propulsion Development Engineer

Senior Propulsion Development Engineer (Senior or Principal)
Location: Greater Seattle Area (In-Person Hybrid)
Level: Senior or Principal (DOE)

The Opportunity
Our client is a high-growth startup stripping away the bureaucracy of "Old Space" to redefine orbital mobility. We need a Senior Propulsion Development Engineer to act as a technical architect, bridging the gap between complex concepts and flight-qualified reality. In this high-touch, boutique engineering environment, you won’t be a "cog in a machine"—you will have a seat at the table for architectural decisions and direct access to leadership.

The Mission
Hardware Ownership: Lead the development and qualification of propellant management and feed systems.
Systems Integration: Partner with internal fluids, thermal, and structures teams to transform propulsion concepts into high-reliability hardware.
Technical Leadership: Act as the primary technical point of contact for external suppliers to source and qualify critical Attitude Control Systems (ACS) components.
Testing & Infrastructure: Design qualification campaigns and build the test infrastructure necessary to evaluate vehicle performance in flight-like conditions.
Rapid Prototyping: Test next-gen architectures, including advanced in-space refueling and propellant management systems.
Who You Are
Hands-on Expert: 5+ years of experience integrating or testing high-reliability fluid and pressure systems.
Hardware-First: You thrive in environments where you support hardware through the rigors of integration and environmental testing.
Versatile Engineer: Familiar with the "bread and butter" of spacecraft propulsion: tanks, regulators, and valves.
Systems Thinker: Able to lead root-cause analysis and understand how propulsion impacts overall vehicle design.
Why Join the Team?
Autonomy: Own your hardware from the lab to the launchpad with a focus on rapid iteration.
Equity & Impact: Competitive salary and meaningful equity in a startup backed by top-tier investors.
Growth: Opportunity to mentor junior engineers and shape a scaling team in the Seattle aerospace hub.
Requirements
Work Authorization: Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Person (Green Card holder).
Location: Current residence in or willingness to relocate near Seattle, WA area.
Standards: Familiarity with aerospace qualification standards (e.g., SMC-S-016 or AIAA) is highly preferred.
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