Senior Hall-Effect Propulsion Engineer — Technical Lead

Telemetry Today LLC; Northern, Los Angeles (KY, CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Apex

Comprehensive healthcare

PTO starting at 15 days

401(k) with match

Parental leave

Daily catered lunch

Job summary

Apex Technology, Inc. is seeking a Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer to lead Hall-effect thruster development for spaceflight, from plasma physics to manufacturing.

You will guide architecture trade-offs, run qualification campaigns, and mentor propulsion engineers to scale EP capability across spacecraft platforms. The role demands deep hands-on Hall thruster experience, leading tests in vacuum facilities and ensuring reliability for mission life and propulsion budgets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/ Master’s in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion, physics or related field.
• 10+ years in electric propulsion with focus on Hall thrusters, or PhD with 3+ years in related field.
• Hands-on knowledge of Hall thruster physics and discharge channel design, magnetic circuit, anode/gas distribution.
• Experience planning Hall thruster/EP test campaigns in vacuum with diagnostics and life testing.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end Hall thruster design including discharge channel, magnetic circuit, anode and gas distributor, and thermal packaging.
• Lead plasma physics and performance modeling for ionization, acceleration, topology, efficiency, thrust-to-power, and ISP.
• Define and execute thruster test and life-qualification campaigns with performance mapping and wear testing.
• Establish erosion and life models; demonstrate compliance with mission life and budgets for power/thermal throughput.
• Drive cathode-thruster integration and EP system interfaces with propellant feed, PPU owners.
• Select materials and processes for spaceflight and high-rate production.
• Develop manufacturing work instructions and AI&T procedures for rate production.
• Collaborate with systems, power electronics, thermal, structures, and avionics teams to define interfaces.

Skills

Hall thruster design

Plasma physics

Electrical propulsion

Test campaigns

Failure analysis

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in a relevant field

PhD in electric propulsion or related field

Tools

Plasma diagnostics tools

Magnetic field/topology design (FEA)

Job description

Apex Technology, Inc. is seeking a Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer to lead Hall-effect thruster development for spaceflight, from plasma physics to manufacturing.

You will guide architecture trade-offs, run qualification campaigns, and mentor propulsion engineers to scale EP capability across spacecraft platforms. The role demands deep hands-on Hall thruster experience, leading tests in vacuum facilities and ensuring reliability for mission life and propulsion budgets.