Senior Systems Engineer I/II

Agile Space Industries Inc.; Durango (CO); On-site; USD 116,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Agile Space Industries is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to lead systems engineering across rocket engine and thruster development programs. You will drive requirements flow, architecture development, trade studies, risk management, and V&V planning from mission concepts to delivery.

The ideal candidate has strong system-level thinking with propulsion experience and will work closely with customers and internal teams to ensure the system is designed, built, and tested to meet mission

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 6+ years in aerospace or related technical field driving systems development.
• Experience with liquid propellent rocket engine or thruster hardware development programs.
• Strong understanding of propulsion, fluid systems, and integration challenges.
• Requirements definition, decomposition, and management experience.
• Experience with verification and validation planning and execution through hardware lifecycles.
• Experience supporting gated design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, TRR).
• Experience working with customers (government or commercial).
• Ability to drive system-level decision making and cross-functional alignment.
• Experience with requirements management tools (JAMA or similar).

Responsibilities

• Define mission objectives, CONOPS, and system success criteria with customers.
• Translate mission needs into clear, testable system requirements and maintain end-to-end traceability.
• Lead system architecture development and trade studies across performance, risk, cost, and schedule impacts.
• Ensure integration across propulsion, structures, avionics, thermal, fluids, and manufacturing interfaces.
• Plan and execute verification and validation approaches, including ATPs.
• Tie verification to requirements and plan early in lifecycle.
• Lead gated product development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.).
• Identify and close technical risks, interface issues, and system gaps.
• Analyze system performance and suggest design or architecture changes.
• Facilitate communication among customers, internal teams, and suppliers.
• Support failure investigations and corrective actions.
• Improve systems engineering processes and tools across programs.

Skills

Systems engineering

Requirements management

Cross-functional collaboration

Propulsion systems knowledge

V&V planning

Gated reviews

Customer interaction

Traceability

Education

B.S. in Engineering

Tools

JAMA or similar

Job description

Overview

Agile Space Industries is a rapidly growing supplier of propulsion hardware and engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with expanding operations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and upcoming growth in Seattle, Washington, Agile has achieved more than 40% year-over-year growth for the past three years, and our momentum continues to accelerate.

At Agile, we design, build, and test in-space propulsion systems that give spacecraft the ability to maneuver with precision, reliability, and purpose. Our technologies play a critical role in missions that range from lunar landings and resource utilization to national defense, human exploration, and commercial space transport.

We are seeking bold and driven individuals who thrive in a hands‑on, fast‑moving environment and want to help write the next chapter of space history as part of a close‑knit, innovative team. You will take on a demanding and rewarding role at Agile, directly shaping the future of in‑space propulsion. As an integral contributor during our growth stage, you will be eligible to participate in our stock option plan, giving you the opportunity to share in the long‑term value you help create. All stock grants are subject to executive review and approval in accordance with the Company’s equity plan.

Role Summary

Agile is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to lead systems engineering across our rocket engine and thruster development programs, driving a clear, executable thread from customer mission and CONOPS through requirements, architecture, design, verification, qualification, and delivery.

The ideal candidate brings strong system‑level thinking and technical experience in propulsion or related aerospace hardware. Working directly with customers and internal teams, this person will translate mission needs into requirements and ensure the system is designed, built, and tested to meet them.

This role owns technical coherence across disciplines and drives system‑level decisions throughout the program lifecycle — leading requirements flow down, architecture development, trade studies, risk management, and V&V planning and execution. Responsibilities include writing test plans, supporting test events, and working with customers to reach agreement on requirements.

Agile operates in a fast‑paced environment where this role is expected to take ownership, drive decisions, and align teams, customers, and suppliers to deliver a working, testable system.

This is an open position at multiple senior levels, to be assessed as part of the candidate review process.

This role is onsite and the candidate must be willing to relocate to Durango, CO without exception.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with customers to define mission objectives, CONOPS, and system success criteria
• Translate mission needs into clear, testable system requirements and maintain end‑to‑end traceability through delivery
• Lead system architecture development and trade studies, including evaluation of performance, risk, cost, and schedule impacts
• Ensure consistency and integration across propulsion, structures, avionics, thermal, fluids, and manufacturing interfaces
• Lead the definition, planning, and execution of the verification and validation approach, including qualification plans and acceptance test procedures (ATP)
• Ensure verification is tied directly to requirements and planned early in the development lifecycle
• Lead and support gated product development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)
• Identify, track, and drive closure of technical risks, interface issues, and system gaps
• Independently analyze system performance and recommend design or architecture changes as needed
• Facilitate communication between customers, internal teams, and suppliers, ensuring clear understanding of system intent, constraints, and decisions
• Support failure investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
• Contribute to improving systems engineering processes, tools, and execution across programs

Required Qualifications (Senior Engineer I)

• B.S. in Engineering or related technical field (or equivalent experience)
• 6+ years of experience driving systems development in aerospace or related technical field
• Experience with liquid propellent rocket engine or thruster hardware development programs
• Strong understanding of propulsion systems, fluid systems, and system integration challenges
• Demonstrated experience in requirements definition, decomposition, and management
• Experience leading or supporting verification and validation planning and execution through hardware development lifecycles
• Experience supporting gated design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, MRR, and TRR)/product lifecycle
• Experience working with customers (government or commercial)
• Ability to drive system‑level decision making and cross‑functional alignment
• Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., JAMA or similar)

Required Qualifications (Senior Engineer II)

• All qualifications listed above, plus:
• 8+ years of experience driving systems development in aerospace or related technical field
• Demonstrated experience leading advanced technical efforts across teams with a deep system‑level understanding
• Demonstrated ability to define roadmaps and ability to simplify complexity for others while ensuring high‑quality execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing space flight hardware with a comprehensive understanding of space design best practices.
• Experience with test plan development and hot fire testing of rocket engines, especially monopropellant and bipropellant liquid rocket engines.
• Experienced in leading failure investigations and root cause analysis
• Familiarity with NASA or other relevant industry standards.
• Familiarity with Range Safety requirements, such as AFSPCMAN 91-710, and process of tailoring industry standard specification to a specific application
• Experience with leading teams and working with Government customers.
• Experience with Propulsion Systems Engineering is desired.
• Clear and concise presentation skills.
• Demonstrated experience with risk and opportunity management activities and strategies?

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Employment Type: Exempt

Work Schedule: Full Time

Travel Requirements: <25%

Location: Onsite Durango, CO

Salary: $116,000-$160,000 annually. Final compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, and internal equity, and is typically made within the midrange, rather than the upper end.

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What You’ll Love About Us

Agile Space Industries offers exceptional benefits to support you and your family including generous health coverage, dental and vision plans, Flexible Time Off, parental leave, and a 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%.

We are committed to creating a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Disclaimer

Agile is proud to offer a competitive benefits package to support our team members as they take on challenging, mission‑driven work. The benefits listed in this job description are applicable to full‑time employees. Part‑time, temporary, or other non‑full‑time employees may have different benefit eligibility in accordance with company policy and applicable plan terms.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Agile, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the perfect fit for this role or another opportunity with us.

Reasonable Accommodation

At Agile, our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request to [e-mail].

Recruitment Notice

Agile Space Industries is not partnering with external recruiters or agencies at this time. Please do not contact our staff directly regarding open positions. All candidates must apply through our official application process to be considered.