Lead Propulsion Integration Engineer

Outsiders Fund; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health insurance

PTO

401(k)

Parental leave

Lunch provided

Playa Vista office

Job summary

Apex Technology, Inc. is seeking a Lead Propulsion Integration Engineer to own propulsion modules from requirements to flight-ready design.

You will lead a team responsible for tank sizing, structure, feed-system routing, interfaces, and propellant servicing, ensuring milestones meet mass, cost, and power budgets. The role requires hands-on leadership, strong cross‑functional collaboration, and deep expertise in propulsion hardware, safety, and range compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, propulsion engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years in spacecraft propulsion, mechanical/fluid systems, or propulsion integration.
• Experience leading engineers as a technical lead or manager.
• Strong propulsion module and feed-system design experience.
• Experience with hardware against vehicle-level requirements and budgets.
• Hands‑on propellant servicing experience.
• Knowledge of hazardous range safety requirements for space operations.
• Experience delivering flight propulsion hardware from design to launch.
• Excellent cross‑functional communication for vehicle-level decisions.
• U.S. Person status per ITAR is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead propulsion module integration team with high technical rigor.
• Own propulsion module architecture across spacecraft platforms.
• Translate requirements into propulsion module designs with budgets.
• Deliver flight-ready modules meeting mass, cost, and power targets.
• Ensure interfaces meet structural and verification requirements.
• Oversee propellant servicing, including fill/drain and GSE.
• Maintain safety documentation and range approvals.
• Drive design for manufacturing, integration, test, and serviceability.
• Collaborate with systems, structures, thermal, avionics, power, and program teams.
• Support vehicle integration, test, launch campaigns, and RC investigations.
• Communicate status, risks, and plans to leadership.

Skills

Bachelor's degree

Lead engineers

Propulsion design

Hardware ownership

Propellant servicing

Range safety

Flight hardware

Cross-functional communication

ITAR awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, propulsion engineering

Master's degree (nice to have)

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 Propulsion Integration Engineer to own the propulsion modules that fly on our spacecraft, from initial vehicle requirements through design, integration, servicing, and launch.

You will lead the engineers responsible for turning spacecraft and mission requirements into complete, flight-ready propulsion modules. That includes tank selection and sizing, module structure and mounting, feed-system architecture and routing, electrical and fluid interfaces, and ensuring the final design meets mass, cost, power, structural, and vehicle-level requirements.

This is a hands‑on technical leadership role. You'll set the architecture and engineering standards for propulsion module integration, develop the team, and stay close to the hardware as we scale production. Your team will also own spacecraft propellant servicing, including fill and drain operations, ground support equipment, procedures, and range compliance.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the propulsion module integration team, setting a high bar for technical rigor, ownership, and execution.

• Own propulsion module architecture across Apex's spacecraft platforms, including tank selection, module structure, mounting, feed-system routing, and vehicle interfaces.

• Translate vehicle and mission requirements into complete propulsion module designs, including propellant and delta‑v budgets.

• Deliver flight‑ready modules within allocated mass, cost, and power while meeting vehicle requirements and ICDs.

• Ensure module structures and interfaces meet structural, environmental, and verification requirements.

• Own spacecraft propellant servicing, including fill/drain operations, procedures, ground support equipment, and safe execution.

• Ensure hazardous servicing operations meet applicable range requirements, including SSCMAN 91‑710, and maintain required safety documentation and approvals.

• Drive design for manufacturing, integration, test, and serviceability so propulsion modules can be built and processed efficiently at production rate.

• Partner closely with systems, structures, thermal, avionics, power, propulsion component teams, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and program management.

• Support vehicle integration, test, launch campaigns, and anomaly resolution, including leading root‑cause investigations when issues arise.

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

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, propulsion engineering, or a related technical field.

• 10+ years of experience in spacecraft propulsion, mechanical/fluid systems, propulsion integration, or related hardware development.

• Experience leading engineers as a technical lead, people manager, or both.

• Strong experience with propulsion module and feed-system design, including tank sizing and selection, structural integration, fluid routing, and component selection.

• Experience owning hardware against vehicle-level requirements, ICDs, and mass, cost, and power budgets.

• Hands‑on experience with spacecraft propellant servicing, including fill/drain operations, procedures, and ground support equipment.

• Working knowledge of range safety requirements for hazardous spacecraft operations.

• Proven experience taking flight propulsion hardware from design through build, integration, test, and launch.

• Strong cross‑functional communication skills and the ability to represent propulsion in vehicle-level technical and program decisions.

• 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 degree in mechanical, aerospace, propulsion engineering, or a related field.

• Experience with both chemical and electric propulsion systems and propellant servicing, including xenon or krypton loading.

• Experience transitioning propulsion modules or feed systems into serial or high‑rate production.

• Experience authoring hazardous operations procedures and supporting range approval processes.

• Familiarity with propellant compatibility, cleanliness, and contamination control requirements.

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

#LI-MO1

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.