Propulsion Architect, In-Space Systems (Equity)

stokespacetechnologies; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in stock options

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

Job summary

Stoke Space Technologies seeks an In-Space Propulsion Lead to own propulsion for the new Nova-era products. You will define propulsion architecture, lead build-versus-acquire decisions, and steward design through flight, with ownership of test plans, budgets, and supplier diligence.

You will drive propellant management, establish test capabilities, and collaborate with mission design to shape full-system propulsion, ensuring fast, reliable progress in a dynamic, ownership-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace or chemical engineering, physics or a related field.
• 10+ years of propulsion experience, including in-space propulsion flight hardware you were accountable for from design through qualification and flight.
• Hands-on experience with at least one class of in-space propulsion (chemical or electric) carried through qualification, and working knowledge of the others.
• Experience leading a propulsion team or program, with accountability for its technical output, schedule and budget.
• Strong fundamentals in combustion, heat transfer, fluid flow, and pressurization and propellant management systems.
• Experience owning test campaigns, from test plans through hot fire and anomaly resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to make rapid, well-reasoned propulsion architecture decisions with incomplete information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead and to follow.

Responsibilities

• Define the propulsion architecture for the group's products: thrust, Isp and mass trades, propellant and propulsion-class selection, feed system approach, dwell and refuelability.
• Lead build-versus-acquire-versus-partner decisions for propulsion: technical and production diligence on suppliers and acquisition targets, cost and schedule models, and a recommendation to the leadership team.
• Own the design, analysis, manufacturing plan, test plan and qualification of the selected propulsion systems, from thrusters through feed system, tanks and pressurization.
• Own propellant management over the mission life: thermal control, pressurization, leakage and propellant budgets.
• Establish propulsion test capability, from component to system-level hot fire, using existing Stoke infrastructure where it fits and specifying new capability where it does not.
• Provide propulsion inputs to mission design and vehicle architecture trades partnering with various leads to develop the full system.
• Lead root-cause investigations, risk mitigation, schedules and budgets for propulsion development.
• Help grow the propulsion team as the product matures.

Skills

Propulsion architecture decisions

In-space propulsion

Leadership/Team management

Propulsion test campaigns

Thermal control & propellant mgmt

Design through qualification & flight

Strong written/verbal communication

Decision making under uncertainty

Education

Bachelor's in mechanical/ aerospace/ chemical engineering, physics

Job description

Stoke Space Technologies seeks an In-Space Propulsion Lead to own propulsion for the new Nova-era products. You will define propulsion architecture, lead build-versus-acquire decisions, and steward design through flight, with ownership of test plans, budgets, and supplier diligence.

You will drive propellant management, establish test capabilities, and collaborate with mission design to shape full-system propulsion, ensuring fast, reliable progress in a dynamic, ownership-driven environment.