Senior Electric Propulsion Cathode Engineer

Apex Technology, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Apex

Healthcare for you & dependents

PTO 15–20 days + 10 holidays

401(k) with matching

Parental leave

Catered lunch

Job summary

Apex Technology, Inc. in Playa Vista, CA, seeks a Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer with deep cathode expertise to own the design, development, and production of cathode technology for our hollow/ heaterless cathode-driven propulsion systems.

You will set the technical roadmap, lead test and life-qualification campaigns, mentor propulsion engineers, and collaborate across systems, power electronics, and thermal teams to deliver production-first, flight-ready cathode solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics or related field.
• 10+ years in electric propulsion with a focus on cathode design/testing or PhD with 5+ years industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end design of hollow and heaterless cathodes, including emitter selection, keeper and orifice geometry, heater design, and thermal-mechanical packaging.
• Develop physics-based and empirical models to predict cathode performance, discharge behavior, margins and life, validated against test data.
• Define and execute cathode test and life-qualification campaigns, including ignition, conditioning, vacuum tests and long-duration life tests.
• Drive cathode-thruster integration and optimization of cathode-to-anode coupling, mass flow split, and placements for EP system performance.
• Establish erosion, poisoning and degradation models; perform contamination-control analysis and life testing; ensure propulsion budgets.
• Select emitter materials and processes, including LaB6 and BaO-impregnated tungsten, qualifying for spaceflight and high-rate production.
• Optimize cathode designs for weight, cost, manufacturability, and develop manufacturing work instructions and processes.
• Collaborate with systems, power electronics, thermal, structures, and avionics teams to define interfaces and verify requirements.
• Support build, integration and test of flight hardware, launch campaigns, and anomaly resolution.
• Lead failure analysis and drive continuous design improvements; mentor propulsion engineers and build team and capability.

Skills

Cathode design

Electric propulsion

Vacuum testing

Thermionic emission

Emitter materials

Test campaigns

Materials selection

Education

Bachelor's in engineering or related field

PhD in electric propulsion or related field

Job description

Apex Technology, Inc. in Playa Vista, CA, seeks a Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer with deep cathode expertise to own the design, development, and production of cathode technology for our hollow/ heaterless cathode-driven propulsion systems.

You will set the technical roadmap, lead test and life-qualification campaigns, mentor propulsion engineers, and collaborate across systems, power electronics, and thermal teams to deliver production-first, flight-ready cathode solutions.