Lead Electric Propulsion Engineer

Outsiders Fund; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Healthcare

PTO

401(k)

Parental leave

Lunch provided

Playa Vista office

Community events

Job summary

Apex Technology, Inc. is hiring a Lead Electric Propulsion Engineer to steer the EP subsystem end‑to‑end, including Hall‑effect thrusters, cathodes, flow controllers, and PPUs.

You’ll own roadmap, performance, and production readiness while coordinating with systems, power, avionics, and manufacturing teams. The role demands hands‑on leadership, a strong propulsion background, and a track record delivering flight hardware through design, qualification, and production, in a fast‑growing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of propulsion engineering experience with significant depth in electric propulsion.
• Strong technical experience with electric propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters and interfaces between components.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineers and delivering flight propulsion hardware.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills across engineering, production, programs, and leadership.
• U.S. Person status per ITAR requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, grow, and develop the electric propulsion team covering thrusters, cathodes, flow control, and PPUs.
• Own the EP subsystem roadmap and align development with production needs.
• Manage EP subsystem performance, reliability, schedule, cost, and delivery of flight hardware.
• Drive cross-component technical trades and define interfaces, margins, and requirements.
• Set EP design standards, verification strategies, and qualification plans.
• Drive design for manufacturability and testability for high-rate production.
• Collaborate with systems, avionics, power, thermal, structures, production, and quality teams.
• Own EP test and qualification strategy, including vacuum facilities and life testing.
• Lead vendor strategy and make buy/build decisions for EP hardware.
• Support launch campaigns, anomaly resolution, and root-cause investigations.

Skills

Propulsion leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Systems engineering

Problem solving

People management

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace/mechanical/electrical/plasma propulsion or related field

Tools

EP test equipment

Vacuum facilities

Subsystem integration

Job description

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

About the Role

Apex is seeking a Lead Electric Propulsion Engineer to build and lead the team responsible for Apex’s electric propulsion subsystem end to end, including Hall-effect thrusters, cathodes, flow controllers, and power processing units (PPUs). You’ll own the technical direction, development, qualification, and production readiness of the EP subsystem across Apex spacecraft.

This is a hands‑on technical and people leadership role. You’ll lead a team of propulsion engineers and technical specialists, set the EP roadmap, drive cross‑component trades, and ensure the subsystem meets performance, reliability, schedule, cost, and production requirements. You’ll also serve as the primary propulsion interface across systems engineering, production, avionics, power, thermal, supply chain, quality, and program management.

This is an opportunity to shape and scale a complete electric propulsion capability inside a company building spacecraft for serial production.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, grow, and develop Apex’s electric propulsion team, including engineers specializing in thrusters, cathodes, flow control, and PPUs.

• Own the EP subsystem roadmap across Hall-effect thrusters, cathodes, flow controllers, and PPUs, aligning development with spacecraft platform and production needs.

• Own EP subsystem performance, reliability, schedule, cost, and delivery of flight hardware at rate.

• Drive cross‑component technical trades across thruster, cathode, flow control, and PPU architecture, including operating points, interfaces, margins, and requirements.

• Set technical standards for EP design, analysis, test, qualification, requirements, ICDs, and verification.

• Drive design for manufacturability and testability so propulsion hardware can be built consistently and efficiently at production scale.

• Partner closely with systems, avionics, power, thermal, structures, production, supply chain, quality, and program teams to resolve subsystem‑level challenges.

• Own EP test and qualification strategy, including vacuum facilities, diagnostics, life testing, and plans to scale test capacity.

• Lead vendor strategy and build‑vs‑buy decisions for EP hardware and critical components.

• Support launch campaigns, on‑orbit performance evaluation, anomaly resolution, and root‑cause investigations.

• Communicate technical status, risks, tradeoffs, and development plans to engineering and company leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics, or a related field.

• 10+ years of propulsion engineering experience with significant depth in electric propulsion.

• Strong technical experience with electric propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters and the interfaces between thrusters, cathodes, flow control, and PPUs.

• Demonstrated experience leading engineers and complex technical development, whether through people management, technical leadership, or both.

• Proven track record developing and delivering flight propulsion hardware through design, qualification, production, and on‑orbit operation.

• Strong understanding of EP subsystem architecture, requirements, interfaces, verification, and qualification.

• Experience balancing technical decisions with schedule, cost, reliability, and production requirements.

• Strong cross‑functional communication skills with the ability to represent propulsion across engineering, production, programs, and company leadership.

• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15).

Nice to Have:

• Master’s or Ph.D. focused on electric propulsion, plasma physics, or a related field.

• Experience building or scaling an electric propulsion team, capability, or test infrastructure.

• Experience transitioning propulsion hardware from development into serial or high‑rate production.

• Experience with EP systems supporting both LEO and GEO mission profiles, including orbit raising, station‑keeping, and deorbit.

• Experience with krypton or other non‑xenon electric propulsion propellants.

• Experience owning subsystem‑level schedule, budget, and technical risk.

• Familiarity with applicable range safety requirements, including SSCMAN 91‑710.

Why Join Apex?

Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too. We're a fast‑growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding, and we invest heavily in our people from day one.

What We Offer For Full-time Employees:

• Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create

• Best‑in‑class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost

• Comprehensive PTO package to reset and recharge - starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays

• Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%

• 8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work‑related travel

• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day

• Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family

• Your dream desk setup and all the tools you need to be your most productive self

• World‑class Playa Vista office with the benefit of in‑person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life

• Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting‑edge industries to make a lasting difference

Ready to join a team where your contributions matter and your future is bright? Let's build something extraordinary together.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Apex Technology, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.