Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer

Astranis; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Healthcare

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k)

Flexible PTO

On-site catered meals

Job summary

Astranis is seeking a Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer to oversee the production of the propulsion subsystem for high‑orbit satellites. You will design and build tooling, source equipment, and coordinate cross‑functional efforts to meet cost and schedule targets.

The role requires a BS in a technical field, 3+ years in propulsion or space hardware, CAD proficiency, hands-on manufacturing experience, and on-site presence five days a week in Northern California.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in a technical discipline (engineering, physics).
• 3+ years of industry experience in propulsion, space vehicles, or high-precision welding.
• Proficiency in CAD and building hardware of your own design.
• Passion for manufacturing, fast-paced environment, and hands-on development.
• Demonstrated ability to personally manage construction of complex hardware.
• Onsite presence required five days a week.

Responsibilities

• Manage production of a propulsion subsystem for high‑orbit satellites.
• Design and build or source tooling and equipment for propulsion components.
• Build the factory to upgrade and maintain satellite-building capabilities.
• Develop manufacturing processes meeting internal and external standards.
• Collaborate with other teams to deliver subsystems on time and with quality.
• Assist in recruiting and hiring additional teammates.

Skills

CAD proficiency

Propulsion manufacturing

Hands-on design

Manufacturing mindset

Education

Bachelor of Science in engineering/physics

Tools

MES

ERP

Job description

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer

As a Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer, you will oversee the production of the propulsion subsystem for high-orbit satellites. You will be responsible for the production of propulsion components, getting them assembled into a subsystem, and integrating that subsystem onto the vehicle. This is a highly cross‑functional role that will require you to meet stakeholder and industry requirements while hitting aggressive cost and schedule requirements.

Role

• Manage the production of a propulsion subsystem for use in a high-orbit satellite application
• Design and build, or source, all tooling and equipment necessary to build propulsion components and assemble propulsion subsystems
• Build the factory that builds satellites - manage complex infrastructure targets to upgrade and maintain our capabilties
• Develop manufacturing processes that meet rigorous internal and external standards
• Work closely with other teams to deliver your subsystem on time and at our expected quality
• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly growing team

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in a technical discipline (e.g. engineering, physics)
• 3+ years of industry experience in propulsion, space vehicles, or high-precision welding
• Proficiency in Computer Aided Design (CAD), and building hardware of your own design
• A passion for manufacturing, including working in a fast-paced environment and doing hands-on design/ development
• Demonstrated ability of personally managing the construction of complex hardware
• Must be onsite 5 days a week

Bonus

• Direct experience in propulsion or aerospace welding engineering
• Specific experience manufacturing, testing, or designing electric propulsion or chemical space propulsion
• Experience with Manufacturing Engineering Software (MES) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
• Strong understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Familiarity with reading and interpreting industry standards and specifications (AWS D17.1, MIL-STDs, AS/NAS component specifications)
• Familiarity with Pressurized Systems operation and construction
• Familiarity with Reliability and Mission Assurance best practices

What we offer:

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional‑grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

$115,000 - $145,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.

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 hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Astranis’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.

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress toward this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees…

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.