Senior Propulsion Engineer: Interceptor Rockets Equity

Approach Venture LLC; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Approach Venture LLC in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to own the solid rocket motor across two interceptor platforms. You will define requirements, grain design, case, nozzle, igniter, and testing, reporting to the technical co-founder and guiding a growing propulsion team.

Responsibilities include model internal ballistics, drive motor architecture, coordinate tests, and ensure safe handling and storage of energetic materials, with direct national security impact in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or chemical engineering (master's preferred).
• 5+ years of solid rocket motor development experience.
• Experience taking a solid motor from concept to static fire including grain, nozzle, and igniter integration.
• U.S. Person status required (ITAR) and ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Translate trajectory needs from GNC and aerodynamics into motor requirements such as total impulse, thrust profile, burn time, and mass.
• Lead motor architecture and detailed design across grain, case, insulation and liner, nozzle, and igniter.
• Design propellant grains and perform burnback analysis to tailor the thrust curve.
• Model internal ballistics, chamber pressure, heat transfer, and nozzle erosion.
• Select propellant formulations, insulation, and nozzle materials.
• Drive make-vs-buy decisions for propellant and motor components, and manage motor suppliers.
• Co-design the motor case with the mechanical team for pressure, launch loads, and airframe attachment.
• Plan and execute static fires, proof and pressure tests, and temperature-conditioned firings.
• Coordinate with outside test ranges and energetics facilities, and own handling and storage safety procedures.
• Design test fixtures and instrumentation, and analyze data to refine the design.
• Take the motor through qualification for storage, transport, and flight environments.
• Define the ignition train interface with avionics, including safe-and-arm devices and interlocks.
• Provide thrust and performance models for the 6DOF simulation, and support thrust vector control if adopted.
• Work with aerodynamics on plume and base drag effects, and support flight test predictions and post-flight analysis.
• Mentor and review the work of propulsion engineers

Skills

Internal ballistics

Propulsion design

System integration

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or chemical engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Machining and test fixture design

Job description

Approach Venture LLC in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to own the solid rocket motor across two interceptor platforms. You will define requirements, grain design, case, nozzle, igniter, and testing, reporting to the technical co-founder and guiding a growing propulsion team.

Responsibilities include model internal ballistics, drive motor architecture, coordinate tests, and ensure safe handling and storage of energetic materials, with direct national security impact in a