Mechanical Engineer III - Tank Qualification Lead

Quantum Space; Rockville, Hawthorne (MD, CA); Sur place; USD 145 000 - 200 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Equity

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Generous leave

HSA

401(k) matching

Résumé du poste

Quantum Space is seeking a Mechanical Engineer III – Tank Qualification Lead in Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA to drive tank qualification for spacecraft propellant systems. You will lead design, qualification planning, testing and certification, coordinating with propulsion, materials, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure structural integrity and mission readiness.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in mechanical/pressure vessel engineering, with strong leadership, test execution, and data

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, materials or related field.
• 7+ years in mechanical engineering, pressure vessel design, propulsion, or aerospace hardware.
• Experience designing, developing, testing, or qualifying pressure vessels or propellant tanks.
• Strong understanding of pressure vessel mechanics, structural integrity and failure modes.
• Experience developing qualification plans, test procedures and certification documentation.

Responsabilités

• Lead end-to-end tank qualification activities for spacecraft tanks and related hardware.
• Develop qualification plans, test specs, and acceptance criteria.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across propulsion, materials, manufacturing and quality.
• Interpret test data, correlate with analytical models, and resolve discrepancies.

Connaissances

Pressure vessel design

Structural analysis

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Formation

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Materials engineering or related field

Outils

ANSYS

NASTRAN

Abaqus

JAMA

DOORS

JIRA

Confluence

Description du poste

Mechanical Engineer III - Tank Qualification Lead

Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Mechanical Engineer III – Tank Qualification Lead to lead the design, development, qualification, and acceptance of spacecraft propellant tanks and associated pressurized fluid system hardware.

In this role, you will serve as the technical lead for tank qualification activities, driving engineering requirements, structural and pressure integrity assessments, qualification planning, test execution, and certification documentation. You will work closely with propulsion, mechanical, materials, manufacturing, quality, and systems engineering teams to ensure tank hardware meets demanding structural, pressure, environmental, and mission performance requirements.

You will play a critical role in advancing spacecraft propulsion capabilities by ensuring propellant tanks and pressure-containing hardware are designed, manufactured, tested, and qualified for their intended operating environments. This position requires strong technical expertise in pressure vessel engineering, structural mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, and qualification testing, combined with the ability to lead complex hardware development activities from design through qualification and flight readiness.

This position is ideal for an engineer who combines deep mechanical and pressure vessel engineering expertise with hands‑on hardware development and test leadership experience. At the Level III level, you will independently lead tank qualification efforts, drive technical decisions within your area of responsibility, and coordinate cross‑functional engineering activities to achieve program milestones.

Where You'll Make an Impact

• Lead end-to-end qualification activities for spacecraft propellant tanks, pressure vessels, and associated pressurized fluid system hardware.
• Establish and manage tank qualification requirements, design criteria, qualification plans, test specifications, and acceptance requirements.
• Lead the development and evaluation of tank structural designs, pressure boundaries, interfaces, and mechanical configurations.
• Perform and review pressure vessel structural analyses, including stress, strain, buckling, fatigue, fracture mechanics, and burst margin assessments.
• Evaluate tank performance under operating, proof, burst, and qualification pressure conditions, including applicable structural and environmental load cases.
• Develop qualification and acceptance test strategies, including proof pressure, burst pressure, leak testing, pressure cycling, thermal cycling, and other environmental or functional tests as required.
• Lead the preparation and execution of tank qualification test campaigns, coordinating test facilities, instrumentation, procedures, hardware readiness, and engineering resources.
• Establish test configurations, instrumentation requirements, data collection approaches, and acceptance criteria to ensure qualification objectives are met.
• Evaluate test results, correlate analytical predictions with measured performance, and resolve discrepancies between analysis and test data.
• Lead technical investigations involving tank anomalies, test failures, nonconformances, and manufacturing defects, including root cause analysis and corrective action development.
• Coordinate with materials engineering to assess material selection, compatibility, weld properties, manufacturing processes, and material performance under expected operating conditions.
• Work with propulsion engineering to ensure tank designs and interfaces support propellant storage, pressurization, fluid delivery, and spacecraft operational requirements.
• Partner with manufacturing and quality teams to establish fabrication requirements, inspection methods, weld qualification requirements, process controls, and production acceptance criteria.
• Develop and maintain tank qualification reports, structural analysis documentation, material traceability records, test procedures, and certification packages.
• Evaluate supplier technical capabilities, manufacturing processes, inspection plans, and qualification data for pressure vessel hardware.
• Support design reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, Material Review Boards (MRBs), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs), and qualification reviews.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to mechanical, materials, manufacturing, and test engineers supporting tank development and qualification.
• Support spacecraft integration, environmental testing, and flight readiness activities to ensure qualified tank hardware is ready for mission deployment.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen pressure vessel design practices, qualification methodologies, test processes, and engineering standards.

What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related technical field. Master's degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, pressure vessel design, propulsion systems, or aerospace hardware development.
• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, testing, or qualifying pressure vessels, propellant tanks, or other pressurized aerospace hardware.
• Strong understanding of pressure vessel mechanics, structural integrity, stress analysis, pressure loading, fatigue, fracture mechanics, and failure modes.
• Experience developing pressure vessel qualification plans, test procedures, acceptance criteria, and certification documentation.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading proof pressure, burst pressure, leak testing, and other pressure vessel qualification activities.
• Experience evaluating material properties, manufacturing processes, weld integrity, and material compatibility for pressure-containing hardware.
• Familiarity with pressure vessel design standards, aerospace structural design requirements, and applicable industry codes and specifications.
• Experience with structural analysis tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, Abaqus, or equivalent.
• Experience developing and reviewing mechanical drawings, engineering specifications, interface requirements, and bills of material.
• Ability to interpret test data, correlate analytical models, investigate hardware anomalies, and develop technically sound corrective actions.
• Experience coordinating engineering, manufacturing, quality, supplier, and test organizations to achieve hardware qualification milestones.
• Strong technical leadership, analytical, problem‑solving, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to independently lead complex engineering activities and drive technical execution within a fast‑paced spacecraft development environment.

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience qualifying spacecraft propellant tanks, high‑pressure gas vessels, composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs), or other flight‑qualified pressure systems.
• Experience with spacecraft propulsion systems, including propellant storage, pressurization systems, fluid delivery, and tank‑to‑propulsion interfaces.
• Familiarity with metallic pressure vessel construction, including aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, stainless steels, and specialized aerospace materials.
• Experience with welded, brazed, bonded, or additively manufactured pressure vessel structures.
• Familiarity with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, applicable NASA pressure vessel standards, MIL‑STD requirements, and aerospace‑specific pressure system design criteria.
• Experience with non‑destructive inspection (NDI/NDE) methods, including radiography, ultrasonic inspection, penetrant inspection, and other applicable inspection techniques.
• Experience developing and executing pressure cycling, fatigue, leak, proof, burst, and environmental qualification campaigns.
• Familiarity with fracture control, damage tolerance, material allowables, and life prediction methodologies.
• Experience with pressure vessel manufacturing readiness, supplier qualification, weld procedure qualification, and production acceptance.
• Experience supporting spacecraft environmental testing, including vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum testing.
• Familiarity with engineering configuration management and requirements tools such as Jama, DOORS, JIRA, and Confluence.
• Programming or engineering analysis experience using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• Experience supporting U.S. Space Force, Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Development Agency (SDA), AFRL, NASA, NRO, or other national security space programs.
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.

What You'll Get

• Ownership – Lead the qualification of critical spacecraft pressure vessels and propellant tank systems from design development through flight readiness.
• Innovation – Help develop advanced propulsion and spacecraft technologies that redefine mobility and maneuverability in space.
• Impact – Deliver mission‑critical pressure vessel hardware supporting national security, civil, and commercial space customers.
• Growth – Join a collaborative engineering team focused on technical excellence, rapid execution, and continuous innovation.
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing.

Base Salary: $145,000 to $195,000, Hawthorne, CA: $150,000 to $200,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but are not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full‑time offers and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Quantum Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.