Lead Propulsion Test Engineer — Scale High-Energy Tests

Apex Technology, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Technology, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA, seeks a Lead Propulsion Test Engineer to build and lead the propulsion test team responsible for development, qualification, and acceptance testing of propulsion hardware for our satellite buses.

The role emphasizes safety, reliability, and scalable test infrastructure. You will own test infrastructure across development, qualification, and production test campaigns, ensuring throughput, data quality, and traceability while collaborating with design,

Qualifications

• Degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering.
• Experience designing and commissioning test stands.
• Experience with vacuum test facilities and instrumentation.
• Leadership experience in engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a propulsion test team focused on safety, rigor, and ownership.
• Design, build, and operate test stands for thrusters, PPUs, and propulsion systems.
• Own propulsion vacuum test infrastructure including chambers and pumps.
• Develop scalable ATP processes for high-rate propulsion production.
• Manage test capacity, scheduling, throughput, and data quality.
• Establish test safety standards for vacuum, high-pressure, high-voltage operations.
• Collaborate with other teams to standardize tooling and data acquisition.
• Define test requirements with design, production, quality, and facilities.
• Lead root-cause investigations during anomalies.
• Own budgets, vendors, and capacity planning as production scales.

Skills

Test engineering leadership

Propulsion hardware testing

Safety and compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Project planning and scheduling

Data analysis and instrumentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering

Tools

Test stands design

Instrumentation

Data acquisition systems

GSE (Ground Support Equipment)

Job description

Apex Technology, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA, seeks a Lead Propulsion Test Engineer to build and lead the propulsion test team responsible for development, qualification, and acceptance testing of propulsion hardware for our satellite buses.

The role emphasizes safety, reliability, and scalable test infrastructure. You will own test infrastructure across development, qualification, and production test campaigns, ensuring throughput, data quality, and traceability while collaborating with design,