Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer

Moog; Arvada (CO); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual profit sharing

401k matching

Employee stock purchase plan

Relocation assistance

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Moog in Arvada, CO is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer to lead propulsion system architecture, design, analysis, integration, qualification, and on‑orbit support across the full program lifecycle. You will develop propulsion requirements, specifications, interfaces, schematics, verification plans, and technical documentation.

The role requires 5+ years of propulsion experience, hands‑on propulsion hardware work, and strong knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience, including substantial experience with spacecraft, launch vehicle, missile, or comparable flight propulsion systems.
• Experience designing, analyzing, integrating, or testing propulsion systems and flight hardware.
• Strong knowledge of propulsion, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, compressible flow, and pressurized-fluid systems.
• Experience with propulsion components such as thrusters, tanks, pressure vessels, valves, regulators, tubing, fittings, and instrumentation.
• Ability to perform system sizing and performance analyses, including delta-v, propellant quantity, water hammer, mass flow, pressure drop, and margin assessments.
• Experience developing requirements, verification plans, test procedures, engineering documentation, and technical risk assessments.
• Experience leading technical teams, design reviews, supplier oversight, trade studies, and anomaly investigations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting technical information to multidisciplinary teams, leadership, customers, and suppliers.
• Ability to support occasional travel and off-shift testing and support when required.
• It would be great if you also had:

Responsibilities

• Lead spacecraft propulsion system architecture, design, analysis, integration, qualification, and on‑orbit support across the full program lifecycle.
• Develop propulsion requirements, specifications, interfaces, schematics, verification plans, and technical documentation.
• Perform system sizing, trade studies, propellant budgeting, pressure‑drop and transient analyses, performance modeling, and mission maneuver assessments.
• Select and integrate propulsion components, including thrusters, tanks, valves, regulators, lines, instrumentation, heaters, and flow‑control devices.
• Plan and support qualification, acceptance, functional, environmental, leak, proof‑pressure, flow, and hot‑fire testing.
• Support spacecraft assembly, integration, propellant loading, pressurization, launch‑site activities, and flight operations.
• Conduct reliability, safety, and failure analyses; support anomaly investigations, root‑cause assessments, and corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with pressure‑system safety, hazardous‑material handling, contamination‑control, and applicable industry requirements.
• Provide technical oversight of suppliers, including design reviews, manufacturing support, test‑data evaluation, and nonconformance resolution.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and program teams, participate in major design and readiness reviews, and communicate technical risks and recommendations.
• Develop operational constraints and procedures; support telemetry analysis, maneuver planning, propulsion performance trending, and remaining‑propellant estimation.
• Support new business pursuits by developing propulsion concepts, system architectures, technical solutions, cost and schedule estimates, risk assessments, and proposal content.
• Participate in customer engagements, proposal reviews, and technical presentations; evaluate mission requirements and communicate propulsion capabilities, trade‑offs, and discriminators.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship while supporting program cost, schedule, risk, and proposal activities.

Skills

Propulsion theory

Thermodynamics

Fluid mechanics

Heat transfer

Compressible flow

Pressurized fluids

System sizing

Requirements development

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related technical field

Job description

Moog is a performance culture that empowers people to achieve great things. Our people enjoy solving interesting technical challenges in a culture where everyone trusts each other to do the right thing. For you, working with us can mean deeper job satisfaction, better rewards, and a great quality of life inside and outside of work.

Job Title: Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer Reporting To: Engineer Sr., Systems Work Schedule: Hybrid – Arvada, CO

Moog is a world-class provider of spacecraft propulsion systems, avionics, flight software, and structures. Our depth of expertise in these subsystems positions us uniquely to develop a high-value vertically integrated space vehicle solution to our customers.

We invite top performers to apply to become a part of our lean and agile team.

The Arvada, CO location is nestled near the foothills of the front range, just west of Denver. The office is a 10-minute drive from downtown Golden and Arvada and is an easy commute from most of the Denver Metro area. Colorado offers year-round outdoor activities and is a melting pot of cultures.

Moog’s Space and Defense Group is seeking an experienced Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer to join our Space Vehicles team in Arvada, CO.

This includes all phases from conceptual design to development, integration, test, and delivery.

Typical space vehicle applications include spacecraft buses, a “smart upper stage”, an in-space transfer vehicle, and a hosted payload platform.

The selected candidate will be responsible for leading the propulsion subsystem and working side-by-side with other engineers in a team environment.

You will report to the Systems Engineering Manager and will have a 9/80 hybrid work schedule, which provides every other Friday off!

To be considered for the Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer role, here’s what you’ll typically need to bring with you:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience, including substantial experience with spacecraft, launch vehicle, missile, or comparable flight propulsion systems.
• Experience designing, analyzing, integrating, or testing propulsion systems and flight hardware.
• Strong knowledge of propulsion, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, compressible flow, and pressurized-fluid systems.
• Experience with propulsion components such as thrusters, tanks, pressure vessels, valves, regulators, tubing, fittings, and instrumentation.
• Ability to perform system sizing and performance analyses, including delta-v, propellant quantity, water hammer, mass flow, pressure drop, and margin assessments.
• Experience developing requirements, verification plans, test procedures, engineering documentation, and technical risk assessments.
• Experience leading technical teams, design reviews, supplier oversight, trade studies, and anomaly investigations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting technical information to multidisciplinary teams, leadership, customers, and suppliers.
• Ability to support occasional travel and off-shift testing and support when required.

It would be great if you also had:

• 7+ years of direct spacecraft propulsion experience.
• Master’s or doctoral degree in aerospace, mechanical, chemical, or a related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated technical ownership of spacecraft monopropellant, bipropellant, gas, green-propellant, or electric propulsion systems.
• Hands‑on experience with propulsion hardware testing, propellant loading, hazardous operations, launch‑site processing, or on‑orbit support.
• Experience using propulsion, fluid, thermal, structural, or system‑modeling tools.
• Knowledge of applicable NASA, Department of Defense, ECSS, AIAA, ASME, or other pressure‑system and spacecraft standards.
• Experience overseeing suppliers, leading technical reviews and anomaly investigations, and resolving hardware nonconformances.
• Familiarity with requirements‑management, configuration‑control, product‑lifecycle, or model‑based systems engineering tools.
• Experience with maneuver planning, telemetry trending, or remaining‑propellant estimation.

As the Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Engineer, you will:

• Lead spacecraft propulsion system architecture, design, analysis, integration, qualification, and on‑orbit support across the full program lifecycle.
• Develop propulsion requirements, specifications, interfaces, schematics, verification plans, and technical documentation.
• Perform system sizing, trade studies, propellant budgeting, pressure‑drop and transient analyses, performance modeling, and mission maneuver assessments.
• Select and integrate propulsion components, including thrusters, tanks, valves, regulators, lines, instrumentation, heaters, and flow‑control devices.
• Plan and support qualification, acceptance, functional, environmental, leak, proof‑pressure, flow, and hot‑fire testing.
• Support spacecraft assembly, integration, propellant loading, pressurization, launch‑site activities, and flight operations.
• Conduct reliability, safety, and failure analyses; support anomaly investigations, root‑cause assessments, and corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with pressure‑system safety, hazardous‑material handling, contamination‑control, and applicable industry requirements.
• Provide technical oversight of suppliers, including design reviews, manufacturing support, test‑data evaluation, and nonconformance resolution.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering and program teams, participate in major design and readiness reviews, and communicate technical risks and recommendations.
• Develop operational constraints and procedures; support telemetry analysis, maneuver planning, propulsion performance trending, and remaining‑propellant estimation.
• Support new business pursuits by developing propulsion concepts, system architectures, technical solutions, cost and schedule estimates, risk assessments, and proposal content.
• Participate in customer engagements, proposal reviews, and technical presentations; evaluate mission requirements and communicate propulsion capabilities, trade‑offs, and discriminators.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship while supporting program cost, schedule, risk, and proposal activities.

How We Care for You:

• Financial Rewards: great compensation package, annual profit sharing, matching 401k and the ability to participate in Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts.
• Work/Life Balance: Flexible paid time off, holidays and parental leave program, relocation assistance.
• Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan ("EAP") and other supplemental benefit coverages.
• Professional Skills Development: Tuition Assistance, mentorship and coaching opportunities, leadership development and other personal growth programs.
• Collaborative and Welcoming Workplace: Inclusive culture rooted in our values, enhanced by Employee Resource Groups, and team‑building activities.

Schedule:

Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week on a 9/80 schedule.

#LI-CP2 #LI-Hybrid

Salary Range Transparency:

Arvada, CO $115,000.00–$170,000.00 Annually

Salary Range Disclaimer The base salary range represents the low and high end of the Moog salary range for this position in the given work location. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range(s) listed is just one component of Moog's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, employee stock purchase plan, an open paid time off policy, and many region‑specific benefits.

This position requires access to U.S. export‑controlled information.

Moog offers an inclusive workplace, and, as such, affirms the right of every person to participate in all aspects of employment based on merit without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Absent compliance with these pre‑conditions resumes submitted directly to any Moog Inc. employee or affiliate will not qualify for fee payment, and therefore become the property of Moog Inc.