Propulsion Design Engineer for HLS

Amentum company; Huntsville, Northern (AL, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) matching

Educational reimbursement

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Pet insurance

Job summary

Amentum Space Exploration Division is seeking an experienced Propulsion Design Engineer to design, develop, and test propulsion systems for NASA human launch vehicles. You will contribute to flight rationale through detailed design and system integration, joining a multi‑discipline team to build robust propulsion hardware and ground test equipment.

You will collaborate with NASA centers and partners, owning integrated propulsion designs with additive manufacturing and advanced modeling, while

Qualifications

• BS degree (MS preferred) in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or a related field from an ABET‑accredited institution is preferred.
• Typically requires a Master’s degree with 8+ years of experience, or a Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience.
• Must be a US Citizen and have a STAR ID.

Responsibilities

• Participate in multi-disciplinary engineering teams to develop new designs (CAD models, documents, drawings) with a focus on propulsion devices and supporting hardware.
• Apply system-level thinking to ensure new designs integrate with subsystems across structures, mechanisms, avionics, fluid systems, and mission operations constraints.
• Use CREO parametric modeling software (including piping and additive manufacturing modules) to develop robust, manufacturable designs.
• Collaborate across MSFC organizations, NASA centers, and partners to ensure design maturity and manufacturing readiness.

Skills

CAD tools

CREO

NX CAD

SolidWorks

ASME Y14.5 / ISO 1101

Windchill PLM

Design ownership

MS Office

Python

AI/ML frameworks

Communication skills

Education

ABET-accredited BS/MS in Mechanical/Aerospace/Civil Eng

Tools

CREO

NX CAD

SolidWorks

Windchill

PLM software

Job description

Join Our Journey

At Amentum Space Exploration Division (ASED) your growth is our priority! That’s why we offer an array of exciting opportunities for your career development. From the transformative Team Lead Academy to education reimbursement, personalized mentoring, and engaging company-sponsored networking events, you have the power to shape your professional journey in a way that aligns with your aspirations.

Find Your Community

At the heart of our thriving business are the incredible people who make it all possible. We celebrate a vibrant array of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Here, we foster an environment where everyone—employees, clients, and partners alike—are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Prioritize Your Well-Being

Our extensive benefits package is designed with your health in mind. Enjoy wellness programs, paid holidays, generous time off, employee perks, and so much more. We’re here to help you achieve a harmonious balance in your life—both at work and at home.

Together, We Soar

Our dynamic team consists of 10 companies united in a single mission: to venture from Moon to Mars and beyond. Join us on this extraordinary adventure!

Position Description

As an experienced Propulsion Design Engineer, you will provide inline design, development, and test support for propulsion systems used in NASA’s Human Launch Systems. In this role, you will contribute to establishing flight rationale for America’s new human-rated vehicles through both detailed design work and system-level integration insight.

You will join a multi-discipline team responsible for developing propulsion components and mechanisms that must seamlessly integrate across broader vehicle systems. Success in this role requires strong collaboration, clear communication, and the ability to understand how individual hardware designs fit within the larger propulsion and mission architecture.

Primary Job Duties

• Participate in multi-disciplinary engineering teams to develop new designs (CAD models, documents, drawings) with a focus on propulsion devices and supporting hardware.
• Apply system-level thinking to ensure new designs integrate cleanly with upstream and downstream subsystems, including structures, mechanisms, avionics, fluid systems, and mission operations constraints.
• Use CREO parametric modeling software (including piping and additive manufacturing modules) to develop robust, manufacturable designs.
• Collaborate closely across MSFC organizations, other NASA centers, and partners to ensure design maturity, manufacturing readiness, and alignment with system requirements.
• Support development of integrated propulsion flight hardware and associated ground test equipment, helping identify interface risks and mitigation strategies early in the design lifecycle.
• Communicate effectively across diverse teams to build productive working relationships, share design intent, and ensure smooth integration across propulsion and vehicle systems.

Qualifications – External

• BS degree (MS preferred) in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or a related field from an ABET‑accredited institution is preferred. Typically requires a Master’s degree with 8+ years of experience, or a Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience. Must be a US Citizen and have a STAR ID.

Additional Qualifications

• Proficiency with CAD tools such as CREO, NX CAD, or SolidWorks.
• Familiarity with ASME Y14.5 / ISO 1101 to drive dimensional strategies, produce compliant engineering drawings, and execute tolerance stack‑up analysis using CAD.
• Experience with Windchill or similar PLM software for configuration management and release workflows.
• Ability to independently own designs of integrated propulsion systems, additive‑manufactured hardware, and mechanical mechanisms with minimal oversight.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (PowerPoint, Excel, Word).
• Experience with programming languages like Python and developing AI/ML models using frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Keras is desired.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including frequent cross-team collaboration.

Essential Functions

Work Environment

Office environment. Requires ability to provide clear, concise, accurate and timely communication, both verbally and in writing (100%). Requires ability to interact professionally with co-workers, management, and client (100%). Requires travel in the domestic USA (5%). Requires ability to work at a computer for long periods of time (100%).

Physical Requirements

Requires sitting for extended periods of time in meetings with peers, management, and with our client at NASA facilities to discuss technical issues (10%). Also, requires sitting for extended periods of time at a desk to write reports and perform engineering tasks (80%). Requires ability to use stairs or elevators for access between floors and multiple buildings at NASA and our facilities (10%).

Equipment and Machines

Requires ability to operate a personal computer, a telephone, fax machine, copier, calculator, and other general office equipment (100%).

Attendance

Normal workday 7:30-4:30, Monday thru Friday. Minimal overtime may be required (10%) to meet schedule milestones and to support technical demands of the job. Regular attendance is a necessity, and adequate arrangements for delegating duties during absences are required.

Other Essential Functions

The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and to make rational decisions, and to exercise good judgment is essential (100%). Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others.

Proof of U.S. Citizenship is required.

#ESSCA #ASED #Amentum

Compensation Details

0.01

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
• Educational reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax-saving optionsDisability and life insurance
• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Original Posting

10/07/2026 - Until Filled

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.