Senior Propulsion Engineer
HybridPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Job Summary
Lead and support the design, integration, testing, and operation of new propulsion systems for spacecraft and lunar landers. Create conceptual and detailed designs of hypergol-based propulsion systems including tanks, valves, instrumentation, engines, and pressurization systems. Coordinate with program management and systems engineering to assess requirements, design progress, schedule, and risks. Perform supplier management support including developing specifications for vendor supplied components and providing technical review of manufacturing processes. Create integration instructions and provide support during spacecraft assembly in the cleanroom. Contribute to technical readiness and safety reviews for testing activities, including on-site support of vendor-supplied hardware when necessary. Write mission operations procedures and provide real time mission operations support. This role reports to the Propulsion and Thermal Systems Manager within the Engineering Department in Pittsburgh, PA.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or similar Engineering with 8 years of experience in spacecraft propulsion
- Master's Degree with 6 years of related experience
- Knowledge of propulsion system architecture, best practices, components, and suppliers
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate a technical team of 3 or more engineers aligned to a common goal in a multi-year project
- Demonstrated decision making with informed risk to properly balance quality, cost, and schedule across a project that includes non-propulsion subsystems
- Component specification, vendor management, and requirements verification for components such as valves, pressure vessels, pumps, thrusters, instrumentation
- Ability to drive technical rigor in engineering design and verification to meet quality requirements
- Effective verbal and written communication, including reports and technical presentations
- Travel: occasional, periodic with specified project need, with stays up to a week when on-site support is required
- Ability to lift, move or carry items or equipment up to 25 pounds
- ITAR access required
- Applicants must be a U.S. Person: a US Citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)
- Applicants must be eligible to obtain any required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce
Desired Qualifications
- Senior-level experience with hypergolic propulsion systems
- Experience with using fluid system design and analysis software (Thermal Desktop or Amesim preferred) to perform propulsion system trade studies
- Experience with space and / or lunar systems, environments, and design considerations
- Familiarity with propulsion system and spacecraft cleanliness standards
- Experience with hypergolic fluids handling and safety
- Test facility design, assembly, and operation
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