Lead Electric Propulsion Engineer - Scale EP for Spacecraft

Apex Space, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Apex

100% company-paid health care

PTO 15–20 days + 10 holidays

401(k) with generous matching

8 weeks parental leave

Daily catered lunch

Playa Vista office

Job summary

Apex Space, Inc. is seeking a Lead Electric Propulsion Engineer to spearhead the EP subsystem from design through production readiness.

You will lead a team of propulsion engineers and specialists, set the roadmap, and drive cross‑component trades to meet performance, reliability, and cost targets for serial spacecraft production. You will interface across systems engineering, avionics, power, thermal, production, and supply chain while shaping the future of electric propulsion capability inside

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics.
• 10+ years of propulsion engineering experience with significant depth in electric propulsion.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills and ability to lead engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead, grow, and develop Apex’s electric propulsion team across thrusters, cathodes, flow control, and PPUs.
• Own the EP subsystem roadmap, performance, reliability, schedule, and cost for flight hardware at rate.
• Drive design for manufacturability and testability to enable production-scale propulsion hardware.
• Collaborate with systems engineering, production, and programs to resolve subsystem challenges.
• Define EP design standards, verification plans, and qualification strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Electric propulsion

Cross-functional communication

Project management

Systems engineering collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics

Master’s or Ph.D. in electric propulsion

Job description

Apex Space, Inc. is seeking a Lead Electric Propulsion Engineer to spearhead the EP subsystem from design through production readiness.

You will lead a team of propulsion engineers and specialists, set the roadmap, and drive cross‑component trades to meet performance, reliability, and cost targets for serial spacecraft production. You will interface across systems engineering, avionics, power, thermal, production, and supply chain while shaping the future of electric propulsion capability inside