Senior Engineer - Rocket Propulsion

HALCON; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

HALCON in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to lead the development, design, manufacturing and testing of rocket propulsion subsystems. You will operate at the intersection of technical leadership and project management, mentoring junior engineers and guiding system decisions from concept through qualification.

Responsibilities include designing and testing propulsion systems, leading system engineering programs, defining requirements, and ensuring documentation and data

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of rocket propulsion development experience.
• Experience developing and producing Solid Rocket Motor Data packs.
• Experience developing solid propellant rocket motors for missile applications.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and test rocket propulsion systems across the full engineering cycle.
• Lead propulsion projects at system engineering level and manage interfaces.
• Define system requirements and maintain technical baseline documentation.
• Mentor entry-level engineers and support knowledge transfer.
• Support additive manufacturing, laser welding, milling and heat treatment activities.
• Advise on PLM software implementation and data integrity.
• Prepare technical data packages to customer and regulatory standards.
• Bridge technical and management teams with clear risk communication.

Skills

Rocket propulsion

System engineering

Technical communication

Project management

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

PLM software

Job description

Job Description

About the Role

The Senior Propulsion Engineer is responsible for driving the development, design, manufacturing, and testing of rocket propulsion subsystems. In this role you will sit at the intersection of technical leadership and project management — mentoring junior engineers, guiding system engineering decisions, and delivering complex propulsion programmes from concept through qualification.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop and test rocket propulsion systems, applying thermodynamic, fluid dynamic and structural principles across the full engineering cycle from concept through performance validation.
• Lead propulsion projects at system engineering level, managing technical interfaces, design reviews and verification activities to ensure milestones are delivered on time and within budget.
• Define system requirements and maintain technical baseline documentation, ensuring configuration control throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Mentor and coach entry-level engineers, reviewing technical outputs and supporting knowledge transfer to build internal propulsion capability.
• Support additive manufacturing, laser welding, milling and heat treatment activities, collaborating with manufacturing teams to resolve non-conformances and ensure components meet specifications.
• Advise on PLM software implementation, driving process standardisation and ensuring data integrity across design, manufacturing and testing phases.
• Prepare and review technical data packages including drawings, specifications, test reports and interface control documents to customer and regulatory standards.
• Liaise between technical teams and project management, translating engineering challenges into clear stakeholder communications and flagging risks across disciplines.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or an equivalent technical qualification

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in rocket propulsion development
• Experience developing and productiong Solid Rocket Motor Data packs
• Experience developing solid propellant rocket motors for missile applications

Competencies

• Planning and organising
• Problem solving
• Communicating and influencing
• Analytical thinking
• Broad knowledge of mechanical engineering as it relates to propulsion system development and manufacturing
• Thorough understanding of propulsion product development and production
• Technical communication (written and oral) with technical and non-technical personnel, suppliers and customers
• Thorough understanding of systems engineering processes

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