Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.
Who We're Looking For
We are seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Mechanical Engineer III – Tank Qualification Lead to lead the design, development, qualification, and acceptance of spacecraft propellant tanks and associated pressurized fluid system hardware.
In this role, you will serve as the technical lead for tank qualification activities, driving engineering requirements, structural and pressure integrity assessments, qualification planning, test execution, and certification documentation. You will work closely with propulsion, mechanical, materials, manufacturing, quality, and systems engineering teams to ensure tank hardware meets demanding structural, pressure, environmental, and mission performance requirements.
You will play a critical role in advancing spacecraft propulsion capabilities by ensuring propellant tanks and pressure-containing hardware are designed, manufactured, tested, and qualified for their intended operating environments. This position requires strong technical expertise in pressure vessel engineering, structural mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, and qualification testing, combined with the ability to lead complex hardware development activities from design through qualification and flight readiness.
This position is ideal for an engineer who combines deep mechanical and pressure vessel engineering expertise with hands-on hardware development and test leadership experience. At the Level III level, you will independently lead tank qualification efforts, drive technical decisions within your area of responsibility, and coordinate cross-functional engineering activities to achieve program milestones.
Where You'll Make an Impact
- Lead end-to-end qualification activities for spacecraft propellant tanks, pressure vessels, and associated pressurized fluid system hardware.
- Establish and manage tank qualification requirements, design criteria, qualification plans, test specifications, and acceptance requirements.
- Lead the development and evaluation of tank structural designs, pressure boundaries, interfaces, and mechanical configurations.
- Perform and review pressure vessel structural analyses, including stress, strain, buckling, fatigue, fracture mechanics, and burst margin assessments.
- Evaluate tank performance under operating, proof, burst, and qualification pressure conditions, including applicable structural and environmental load cases.
- Develop qualification and acceptance test strategies, including proof pressure, burst pressure, leak testing, pressure cycling, thermal cycling, and other environmental or functional tests as required.
- Lead the preparation and execution of tank qualification test campaigns, coordinating test facilities, instrumentation, procedures, hardware readiness, and engineering resources.
- Establish test configurations, instrumentation requirements, data collection approaches, and acceptance criteria to ensure qualification objectives are met.
- Evaluate test results, correlate analytical predictions with measured performance, and resolve discrepancies between analysis and test data.
- Lead technical investigations involving tank anomalies, test failures, nonconformances, and manufacturing defects, including root cause analysis and corrective action development.
- Coordinate with materials engineering to assess material selection, compatibility, weld properties, manufacturing processes, and material performance under expected operating conditions.
- Work with propulsion engineering to ensure tank designs and interfaces support propellant storage, pressurization, fluid delivery, and spacecraft operational requirements.
- Partner with manufacturing and quality teams to establish fabrication requirements, inspection methods, weld qualification requirements, process controls, and production acceptance criteria.
- Develop and maintain tank qualification reports, structural analysis documentation, material traceability records, test procedures, and certification packages.
- Evaluate supplier technical capabilities, manufacturing processes, inspection plans, and qualification data for pressure vessel hardware.
- Support design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, Material Review Boards (MRBs), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), and qualification reviews.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance to mechanical, materials, manufacturing, and test engineers supporting tank development and qualification.
- Support spacecraft integration, environmental testing, and flight readiness activities to ensure qualified tank hardware is ready for mission deployment.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen pressure vessel design practices, qualification methodologies, test processes, and engineering standards.
What It Takes
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related technical field. Master's degree preferred.
- 7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, pressure vessel design, propulsion systems, or aerospace hardware development.
- Demonstrated experience designing, developing, testing, or qualifying pressure vessels, propellant tanks, or other pressurized aerospace hardware.
- Strong understanding of pressure vessel mechanics, structural integrity, stress analysis, pressure loading, fatigue, fracture mechanics, and failure modes.
- Experience developing pressure vessel qualification plans, test procedures, acceptance criteria, and certification documentation.
- Demonstrated experience supporting or leading proof pressure, burst pressure, leak testing, and other pressure vessel qualification activities.
- Experience evaluating material properties, manufacturing processes, weld integrity, and material compatibility for pressure-containing hardware.
- Familiarity with pressure vessel design standards, aerospace structural design requirements, and applicable industry codes and specifications.
- Experience with structural analysis tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, Abaqus, or equivalent.
- Experience developing and reviewing mechanical drawings, engineering specifications, interface requirements, and bills of material.
- Ability to interpret test data, correlate analytical models, investigate hardware anomalies, and develop technically sound corrective actions.
- Experience coordinating engineering, manufacturing, quality, supplier, and test organizations to achieve hardware qualification milestones.
- Strong technical leadership, analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
- Ability to independently lead complex engineering activities and drive technical execution within a fast-paced spacecraft development environment.
Nice-to-Have Experience
- Experience qualifying spacecraft propellant tanks, high-pressure gas vessels, composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs), or other flight-qualified pressure systems.
- Experience with spacecraft propulsion systems, including propellant storage, pressurization systems, fluid delivery, and tank-to-propulsion interfaces.
- Familiarity with metallic pressure vessel construction, including aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, stainless steels, and specialized aerospace materials.
- Experience with welded, brazed, bonded, or additively manufactured pressure vessel structures.
- Familiarity with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, applicable NASA pressure vessel standards, MIL-STD requirements, and aerospace-specific pressure system design criteria.
- Experience with non-destructive inspection (NDI/NDE) methods, including radiography, ultrasonic inspection, penetrant inspection, and other applicable inspection techniques.
- Experience developing and executing pressure cycling, fatigue, leak, proof, burst, and environmental qualification campaigns.
- Familiarity with fracture control, damage tolerance, material allowables, and life prediction methodologies.
- Experience with pressure vessel manufacturing readiness, supplier qualification, weld procedure qualification, and production acceptance.
- Experience supporting spacecraft environmental testing, including vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum testing.
- Familiarity with engineering configuration management and requirements tools such as Jama, DOORS, JIRA, and Confluence.
- Programming or engineering analysis experience using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
- Experience supporting U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Development Agency (SDA), AFRL, NASA, NRO, or other national security space programs.
- Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.
What You'll Get
- Ownership – Lead the qualification of critical spacecraft pressure vessels and propellant tank systems from design development through flight readiness.
- Innovation – Help develop advanced propulsion and spacecraft technologies that redefine mobility and maneuverability in space.
- Impact – Deliver mission-critical pressure vessel hardware supporting national security, civil, and commercial space customers.
- Growth – Join a collaborative engineering team focused on technical excellence, rapid execution, and continuous innovation.
- Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing.
Location: Rockville, MD; Hawthorne, CA.
Base Salary: $145,000 to $195,000, Hawthorne, CA: $150,000 to $200,000
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but are not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.
Additional Requirements
To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Apply now. Join us in building the next generation of spacecraft.
