Chief Engineer - Spacecraft

Gravitics, Inc; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Gravitics, Inc. is seeking a Chief Engineer to own the orbital transfer vehicle architecture, requirements, and integration from design through first flight.

You will lead propulsion subsystem design, system trades, and verification while coordinating with customers, launch providers, and government partners.

Qualifications

• Direct experience with in-space bi-propellant propulsion systems, from design through qualification and flight.
• Demonstrated technical leadership of a spacecraft, stage, or major vehicle subsystem across its full lifecycle.
• Experience technically managing an external supplier of engines, thrusters, or other complex flight hardware, including specifications, design reviews, and acceptance.
• Ability to understand structural, fluid, and thermal designs from first principles.
• Working knowledge of spacecraft systems engineering: requirements, interfaces, verification, and risk management.
• Familiarity with CAD and FEA packages such as NX and NASTRAN or similar.
• 14+ years of industry experience.
• Bachelor's degree in an applicable field.

Responsibilities

• Own the vehicle's system architecture, technical baseline, and requirements, from mission needs down to subsystem and component level.
• Lead system-level trades across propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, GNC, and software, balancing performance, mass, schedule, cost, and risk.
• Lead all design, development, and integration efforts, including major design reviews, vehicle assembly, integration and test, and flight readiness.
• Act as the vehicle's technical authority with customers, launch providers, and government partners.
• Own the technical risk register, schedule, and budget for the vehicle.
• Lead anomaly investigations to root cause and drive the fixes back into design, build, test, and operations.
• Architect a high delta-v bi-propellant propulsion system: main engine, reaction control, propellant storage and management, pressurization, and feed.
• Define the qualification and acceptance test strategy, from component tests through integrated hotfire and vehicle-level testing.

Skills

Propulsion systems

Technical leadership

Supplier management

First principles analysis

Systems engineering

CAD/FEA (NX/NASTRAN)

14+ years experience

Bachelor's degree

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

NX

NASTRAN

Job description

About Gravitics

AtGravitics,we'renot just exploringspace—we'rebuilding it.We'recreating the infrastructure for a thriving space economy, enabling humanity to flourish beyond Earth. Our vision is bold, butwe'renot just dreamers;we'redoers. We design and manufacturethe large-scale structures and systems that will power human and robotic activity in Earth orbit and beyond. Ifyou'reready to lay the foundations for a new era in space, embrace a culture of relentless learning and innovation, and contribute to a future where humanity's reach extends farther,Graviticsis the place for you.Let'sbuild thefuture,together.

About the Role

Gravitics is building a new orbital transfer vehicle to carry payloads to high-energy orbits, and we need one person to own it. As Chief Engineer, you will be the technical authority for the vehicle from architecture through first flight, leading all design, development, and integration efforts. You will apply your background in propulsion systems to develop, manufacture, integrate, and deliver a high delta-v high-thrust spacecraft.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will lead the product development team, manage suppliers, lead mission and spacecraft analyses, and walk the floor during integration.

Responsibilities:

Lead the Vehicle

• Own the orbital transfer vehicle's system architecture, technical baseline, and requirements, from mission needs down to subsystem and component level.
• Lead system-level trades across propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, GNC, and software, balancing performance, mass, schedule, cost, and risk.
• Lead all design, development, and integration efforts, including major design reviews, vehicle assembly, integration and test, and flight readiness.
• Act as the vehicle's technical authority with customers, launch providers, and government partners.
• Own the technical risk register, schedule, and budget for the vehicle.
• Lead anomaly investigations to root cause and drive the fixes back into design, build, test, and operations.

Deliver the Propulsion System

• Architect a high delta-v bi-propellant propulsion system: main engine, reaction control, propellant storage and management, pressurization, and feed.
• Perform and review fluids, thermal, and structural analyses to define and verify system and component behavior, including delta-v and propellant budgets.
• Own detailed requirements for tanks, valves, manifolds, tubing, and thrusters.
• Define the qualification and acceptance test strategy, from component tests through integrated hotfire and vehicle-level testing.
• Work with manufacturing to build, integrate, and accept production hardware for flight.
• Support propellant loading, launch campaign, and on-orbit propulsion operations.

About You

You’rea successful candidateifyou are agiver, notataker.You make things happen.Youare exceptionalat severalthings, yet willing to take on efforts in areasof weakness.

Required Attributes

• Direct experience with in-space bi-propellant chemical propulsion systems, with at least one system taken from design through qualification and flight.
• Demonstrated technical leadership of a spacecraft, stage, or major vehicle subsystem across its full lifecycle.
• Experience technically managing an external supplier of engines, thrusters, or other complex flight hardware, including specifications, design reviews, and acceptance.
• Ability to understand structural, fluid, and thermal designs from first principles.
• Working knowledge of spacecraft systems engineering: requirements, interfaces, verification, and risk management.
• Familiarity with CAD and FEA packages such as NX and NASTRAN or similar.
• 14+ years of industry experience.
• Bachelor's degree in an applicable field.

BonusPoints for

• Experience on an orbital transfer vehicle, kick stage, upper stage, lander, or other high delta-v spacecraft.
• Experience designing test or flight fluid systems for high pressure gases or liquids.
• Hands-on engine or thruster hotfire test experience, including combustion devices.
• Familiarity with safety critical systems, pressure vessels, relief devices, igniters/exciters, and propellant loading operations.
• Familiarity with NASA, DoD, and range safety standards for spaceflight propulsion and pressure systems.
• Experience with prop/fluid system analysis tools such as ROCETS, GFSSP, CEA, TDK.
• Experience building and leading small, high-performing engineering teams.
• Experience supporting U.S. government customers, and the ability to obtain a security clearance.

Salary Range

$210,000 - $250,000 USD

As set forth in Gravitics, Inc’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.