Propulsion System Lead

Required Skills & Experience

• BS or MS in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related Engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in the space industry supporting spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, lunar landers, or other spaceflight programs.
• 8+ years of experience owning propulsion systems, fluid systems, or other complex aerospace subsystems through development and flight programs.
• Strong understanding of propulsion fundamentals, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and spacecraft fluid systems.
• Experience developing, integrating, testing, or operating cryogenic propulsion systems.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering efforts in a fast-paced development environment.
• Strong project management, communication, and technical documentation skills.
• Familiarity with Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Project, or similar tools.
• Experience working in Linux environments.

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

• Experience with spacecraft, lunar landers, launch vehicles, satellites, or other flight hardware.
• Prior experience as a Propulsion Lead, Responsible Engineer, or Technical Lead.
• Experience with methane, oxygen, hydrogen, or other cryogenic propulsion systems.
• Experience with fluid, thermal, and performance modeling tools such as GFSSP, Easy5, SINDA/FLUINT, Thermal Desktop, or ANSYS Fluent.
• Experience supporting launch campaigns, mission operations, planetary exploration, or NASA-related programs.

Job Description

Our client is seeking a Propulsion Systems Lead to own the development, integration, testing, and operation of a large-scale lunar lander propulsion system. This individual will serve as the technical lead for the propulsion subsystem, guiding hardware through the full lifecycle including requirements development, design, fabrication, integration, qualification testing, launch preparation, and mission operations. This is a highly visible role offering ownership of a critical spacecraft subsystem on a flagship lunar exploration program.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the technical owner for the propulsion subsystem.
• Lead propulsion system design, integration, verification, qualification, and flight readiness activities.
• Define and manage technical requirements, interfaces, risks, schedules, and deliverables.
• Coordinate efforts across systems engineering, avionics, software, manufacturing, integration & test, and mission operations teams.
• Oversee propulsion hardware procurement, supplier management, and qualification activities.
• Lead component and system-level testing, troubleshooting, anomaly resolution, and mission support.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across multidisciplinary engineering teams.