Senior Propulsion Hardware Lead

Hermeus; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 187,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Stock options

401(k) retirement plan

Parental leave

Job summary

Hermeus is seeking a Lead Propulsion Component Engineer to own the development of flight-critical propulsion components, including valves, actuators, and high-performance systems operating in extreme environments. This is a player-coach role: you will design hardware and lead a small engineering team from concept through test and flight.

You will drive rapid build-test-iterate cycles, work cross-functionally with propulsion, structures, and vehicle teams, and ensure production-ready hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience developing mechanical or propulsion hardware.
• Demonstrated experience owning hardware from concept through test or production.
• Strong fundamentals in fluids, thermodynamics, mechanics, and materials.
• Hands-on experience with design, build, and integration of mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Own propulsion components from concept through flight qualification.
• Design for extreme environments including high temperature, pressure, and dynamic loading.
• Drive trade studies across performance, manufacturability, reliability, and testability.
• Execute clean-sheet design, analysis, and integration of propulsion hardware.
• Lead development through rapid build-test-iterate cycles.
• Support and troubleshoot hardware during ground and flight test campaigns.
• Lead and mentor a team of 2-5 engineers, setting technical direction and execution priorities.
• Review designs, guide engineering decisions, and ensure high technical standards.
• Act as the Responsible Engineer for critical flight hardware.
• Work closely with propulsion, structures, and vehicle teams to integrate components into engine and vehicle systems.
• Define system requirements, interfaces, and operational limits.
• Drive transition from prototype to repeatable, production-ready hardware.
• Develop assembly, test, and acceptance strategies for reliable delivery.

Skills

Propulsion hardware

Mechanical design

Hands-on integration

Fluids & thermodynamics

Rapid build-test-iterate

GD&T knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX CAD

ANSYS

Job description

Hermeus is seeking a Lead Propulsion Component Engineer to own the development of flight-critical propulsion components, including valves, actuators, and high-performance systems operating in extreme environments. This is a player-coach role: you will design hardware and lead a small engineering team from concept through test and flight.

You will drive rapid build-test-iterate cycles, work cross-functionally with propulsion, structures, and vehicle teams, and ensure production-ready hardware.