Senior Rocket Propulsion Engineer

Hernshead Group; Maine; On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Hernshead Group in the United States is seeking a Senior Rocket Propulsion Engineer to lead the design and development of advanced solid rocket motors for hypersonic R&D and commercial customers.

You will guide propulsion architecture, propellant formulation, grain geometry and motor integration from concept through qualification and flight readiness, mentoring other engineers along the way.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical or Materials Engineering (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred).
• 5+ years of solid rocket propulsion experience, including a lead or key technical role on major solid rocket motor development programs (10+ years preferred).
• Strong expertise in propellant formulation, grain geometry, motor architecture, internal ballistics and combustion performance.
• Experience across full motor lifecycle: concept through testing in iterative R&D environments.
• Experience designing and integrating solid rocket motor components and subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, analysis and optimization of advanced solid rocket motors and propulsion systems from concept through qualification.
• Develop propellant formulations, grain geometries and motor architectures to meet performance and reliability requirements.
• Design and integrate motor components such as casings, nozzles, ignition systems and interfaces.
• Perform internal ballistics, combustion and thermal/structural analyses; drive design improvements.
• Build analytical models and interpret test data to validate designs.
• Lead investigations and root-cause analyses on propulsion performance and tests.
• Lead design reviews and trade studies; make critical propulsion decisions.
• Prepare analyses, specifications, drawings and test plans.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, test and operations; mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Solid rocket propulsion

Lead responsibility

Propellant formulation

Grain geometry

Internal ballistics

Combustion performance

Modeling and simulation

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace/Mechanical/Chemical/Materials Engineering

Master's or Ph.D. preferred

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

CFD/FEA software

Job description

This Senior Rocket Propulsion Engineer will lead the design and development of advanced solid rocket motors for hypersonic R&D programs and commercial customers. The role is about major solid rocket motor development: propulsion architecture, propellant and grain design, internal ballistics, combustion performance, analysis and system integration. You’ll take motor concepts from early design through qualification and flight readiness. You’ll work closely with engineering, manufacturing and test teams in a fast-paced, experimental R&D environment, and you’ll mentor other propulsion engineers along the way.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, analysis and optimization of advanced solid rocket motors and propulsion systems, from concept through qualification
• Develop and refine propellant formulations, grain geometries and motor architectures to meet performance, reliability, manufacturability and mission requirements
• Design and integrate critical motor components, including casings, nozzles, ignition systems, propellant grains and interfaces
• Perform internal ballistics, combustion, thermal, structural and motor performance analyses
• Build analytical models, evaluate simulation results and interpret test data to validate designs and drive iterative improvements
• Lead technical investigations and root cause analyses on propulsion performance and test results
• Lead design reviews and trade studies, and make recommendations on critical propulsion design decisions
• Prepare and review analyses, technical reports, specifications, drawings and test plans
• Work with engineering, manufacturing, test and operations teams throughout development
• Mentor propulsion engineers and other technical staff, and help advance solid rocket propulsion technologies and methods

Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical or Materials Engineering, or a related discipline (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred)
• 5+ years of solid rocket propulsion experience, including a lead or key technical role on major solid rocket motor development programs (10+ years preferred)
• Strong expertise in propellant formulation, grain geometry, motor architecture, internal ballistics and combustion performance
• Experience across the full motor lifecycle: concept, design, analysis, integration, qualification and testing, within iterative design-build-test R&D environments
• Experience designing and integrating critical solid rocket motor components and subsystems
• Skilled in advanced propulsion analysis using modeling, simulation and engineering software, and in turning test data into design improvements
• Able to solve complex technical problems independently and make sound decisions with minimal supervision
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance (an active Secret clearance or higher is preferred)
• Desirable: APCP or other composite propellant formulation, processing, manufacturing and quality control experience
• Desirable: solid rocket motor development for hypersonic, missile, launch vehicle or other advanced defense applications
• Desirable: experience leading static fire tests and post-test performance analysis
• Desirable: experience on DoD, MDA, NASA or other government-funded R&D programs