Lead Propulsion Engineer, Lunar Systems

Socket.dev; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Voyager Technologies in Pittsburgh, PA is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to design, build, test, and operate propulsion systems for spacecraft including lunar landers. The role reports to the Propulsion and Thermal Systems Manager in Engineering and is hybrid with regular on-site work.

You will lead propulsion system design, coordinate with program management and subsystems, develop hypergolic propulsion concepts, manage vendors, and support mission operations and safety reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or similar Engineering with 8 years of experience in spacecraft propulsion, OR a Master’s Degree with 6 years of related experience.
• Knowledge of propulsion system architecture, best practices, components, and suppliers.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate a technical team of 3 or more engineers aligned to a common goal in a multi-year project.
• Demonstrated decision making with informed risk to properly balance quality, cost, and schedule across a project that includes non-propulsion subsystems.
• Component specification, vendor management, and requirements verification for components such as valves, pressure vessels, pumps, thrusters, instrumentation.
• Ability to drive technical rigor in engineering design and verification to meet quality requirements.
• Effective verbal and written communication, including reports and technical presentations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the design, integration, testing, and operation of new propulsion systems for spacecraft and lunar landers
• Coordinate with program management, systems engineering, and other spacecraft subsystems to assess requirements, design progress, schedule, and risks
• Create conceptual and detailed designs of hypergol-based propulsion systems including tanks, valves, instrumentation, engines, and pressurization systems.
• Perform supplier management support including developing specifications for vendor supplied components, providing technical review of manufacturing processes, and assuring requirements are met via test and/or analysis
• Create integration instructions, and provide support during spacecraft assembly in the cleanroom
• Contribute to technical readiness and safety reviews for testing activities of propulsion system components, including on-site support of vendor-supplied hardware when necessary
• Write mission operations procedures and provide real time mission operations support

Skills

Propulsion systems knowledge

Team coordination

Risk-informed decision making

Vendor management

Technical writing

Technical rigor

Communication

Education

Bachelors in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering

Master’s in related field

Job description

Voyager Technologies in Pittsburgh, PA is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to design, build, test, and operate propulsion systems for spacecraft including lunar landers. The role reports to the Propulsion and Thermal Systems Manager in Engineering and is hybrid with regular on-site work.

You will lead propulsion system design, coordinate with program management and subsystems, develop hypergolic propulsion concepts, manage vendors, and support mission operations and safety reviews.