In-Space Propulsion Lead

Stoke Space; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 177,000 - 328,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) with match

Holidays

On-site gym

Dog friendly offices

Stock options

Job summary

Stoke Space is seeking an In‑Space Propulsion Lead to own propulsion architecture and flight hardware across storable, cryogenic and electric classes. You will drive design, analysis, testing, and qualification of propulsion systems and lead supplier diligence with real-world ownership of budgets and schedules.

The role demands a hands-on leader with 10+ years in propulsion, strong fundamentals, and excellent communication to guide cross-disciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace or chemical engineering, physics or related field.
• 10+ years of propulsion experience including in-space propulsion flight hardware.
• Hands-on experience with at least one class of in-space propulsion.
• Experience leading a propulsion team or program.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead and to follow.
• Experience owning test campaigns, from test plans through hot fire and anomaly resolution.
• Strong fundamentals in combustion, heat transfer, fluid flow, and pressurization and propellant management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to make rapid, well-reasoned propulsion architecture decisions with incomplete information.

Responsibilities

• Define propulsion architecture for the group's products: thrust, Isp and mass trades, propellant and propulsion-class selection, feed system approach, dwell and refuelability.
• Lead build-versus-acquire-versus-partner decisions for propulsion: technical and production diligence on suppliers and acquisition targets, cost and schedule models, and a recommendation to the leadership team.
• Own the design, analysis, manufacturing plan, test plan and qualification of the selected propulsion systems, from thrusters through feed system, tanks and pressurization.
• Own propellant management over the mission life: thermal control, pressurization, leakage and propellant budgets.
• Establish propulsion test capability, from component to system-level hot fire, using existing Stoke infrastructure where it fits and specifying new capability where it does not.
• Provide propulsion inputs to mission design and vehicle architecture trades partnering with various leads to develop the full system.
• Lead root-cause investigations, risk mitigation, schedules and budgets for propulsion development.
• Help grow the propulsion team as the product matures.

Skills

In-space propulsion

Propulsion design

Leadership

Test planning

Thermal management

Communication

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace or chemical engineering, physics or related field

Master's degree or PhD in aerospace or mechanical engineering or related field

Job description

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.

Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.

This is a new organization within Stoke, with a goal to develop products on a 3–10 year horizon that grow Stoke beyond launch. Nova moves mass to orbit. This group takes on what comes next: spacecraft and on-orbit mobility that move mass to any orbit, downmass that returns it to Earth, and the satellites, platforms and factories that put mass to work once it is there. The organization is small by design, and everyone here carries a second hat.

Description

As In‑Space Propulsion Lead you own in‑space propulsion for everything the new organization flies. The products this group builds will draw on the full range of in‑space propulsion, from storable and cryogenic chemical systems to electric propulsion and the architectures that follow them. You will define the propulsion architecture for the group's products, lead the build‑versus‑acquire‑versus‑partner decision with real supplier and acquisition diligence, and carry the selected systems through design, qualification and flight. You take extreme ownership over design, analysis, manufacturing, test and validation, and you will help grow a propulsion capability the rest of the portfolio draws on. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self‑direct, and learn on the fly.

Key responsibilities

• Define the propulsion architecture for the group's products: thrust, Isp and mass trades, propellant and propulsion‑class selection, feed system approach, dwell and refuelability.
• Lead build‑versus‑acquire‑versus‑partner decisions for propulsion: technical and production diligence on suppliers and acquisition targets, cost and schedule models, and a recommendation to the leadership team.
• Own the design, analysis, manufacturing plan, test plan and qualification of the selected propulsion systems, from thrusters through feed system, tanks and pressurization.
• Own propellant management over the mission life: thermal control, pressurization, leakage and propellant budgets.
• Establish propulsion test capability, from component to system‑level hot fire, using existing Stoke infrastructure where it fits and specifying new capability where it does not.
• Provide propulsion inputs to mission design and vehicle architecture trades partnering with various leads to develop the full system.
• Lead root‑cause investigations, risk mitigation, schedules and budgets for propulsion development.
• Help grow the propulsion team as the product matures.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace or chemical engineering, physics or a related field.
• 10+ years of propulsion experience, including in‑space propulsion flight hardware you were accountable for from design through qualification and flight.
• Hands‑on experience with at least one class of in‑space propulsion (chemical or electric) carried through qualification, and working knowledge of the others.
• Experience leading a propulsion team or program, with accountability for its technical output, schedule and budget.
• Strong fundamentals in combustion, heat transfer, fluid flow, and pressurization and propellant management systems.
• Experience owning test campaigns, from test plans through hot fire and anomaly resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to make rapid, well‑reasoned propulsion architecture decisions with incomplete information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead and to follow.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience across more than one propulsion class or thrust regime: high‑thrust chemical (storable, green or cryogenic), electric, or multi‑mode combinations.
• Propulsion for long‑duration spacecraft (GEO, cislunar, multi‑year LEO) where propellant management over the mission life drove the design.
• Experience with refueling interfaces, propellant transfer or depot concepts.
• Experience building and managing a propulsion engineering team, including hiring and standing up test and manufacturing capability.
• Master's degree or PhD in aerospace or mechanical engineering or a related field.
• Equity – We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full‑time employees.
• Company‑paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Holidays – 10 days (including an end‑of‑year closure)
• On‑site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)
• Dog friendly offices!

Compensation

Target Levels:

• Level 4 Range: $151,305 - $252,105
• Level 5 Range: $176,505 - $327,810
• Level 6 Range: $262,185 - $393,435

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per‑candidate basis.

Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (i.e., current Green Card holder), or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and backgroundchecks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I‑9 at the start of employment and re‑verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I‑9 process, as noted above, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact [e-mail] . Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the \"Know Your Rights\" notice here .

E-Verify

Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Stoke Space ’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 measurethe 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.