Sr. Propulsion Engineer

Intuitive Machines, LLC; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 104,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Intuitive Machines, LLC is seeking a propulsion systems engineer to join the Propulsion organization. You will apply systems engineering to design and analyze propulsion subsystems for low Earth orbit and beyond, collaborating with power, thermal, and bus electronics teams.

The role emphasizes hardware performance specification, test planning, and qualification support, with a focus on multidisciplinary teamwork and project execution in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of relevant engineering experience (or MS + 3 years).
• Experience with electric and chemical propulsion systems.

Responsibilities

• Design bipropellant, monopropellant, cold gas, and electric propulsion systems.
• Perform subsystem analyses including propellant loading, plume analyses, thruster alignments, and on-orbit performance assessment.
• Define propulsion hardware specifications including tank sizing, thruster selection, configuration, and fault management.
• Work with power, thermal, bus electronics engineers to ensure subsystem architecture meets requirements.
• Define and capture subsystem test requirements and flow-down to unit level.
• Support qualification and testing of propulsion systems.
• Demonstrate team collaboration and project management skills.

Skills

Propulsion design

Propulsion systems

Thermal analysis

CAD modelling

Education

B.S. degree in Physics/Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Please review the job details below.

Intuitive Machines is a global leader in integrated space technologies, delivering advanced systems for communications, exploration, data gathering, and next-generation services. We are seeking highly motivated candidates interested in the development of a wide spectrum of space solutions while working in dynamic and collaborative interdisciplinary teams.

The Propulsion organization is seeking a candidate who can apply their knowledge and experience in the development Propulsion systems for cutting edge low Earth orbit solutions, complex geosynchronous communications satellites, and beyond Earth science missions. The ideal candidate will apply the systems engineering discipline to complex systems and is familiar with space methods, hardware components, and their practical application.

Essential functions include:

• Applies knowledge and experience of engineering concepts to solve and find propulsion systems solutions
• Design of bipropellant, monopropellant, cold gas, and electric satellite propulsion systems
• Perform subsystem analyses including the optimization of propellant loading, plume analyses, thruster alignments, and on-orbit performance assessment
• Responsible for propulsion hardware performance specification including propellant/pressurant tank sizing, thruster selection and configuration, and performance characteristics, redundancy and fault management.
• Work with power, thermal, bus electronics engineers to ensure subsystem architecture meets operational requirements
• Define and capture subsystem test requirements and flow-down to unit level
• Support qualification and testing of propulsion systems
• Demonstrated team player and project management skills

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• B.S. degree in Physics, Engineering, or related discipline
• Courses/experience in electric and chemical propulsion systems, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, physics
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience or M.S. degree and 3 years of relevant work experience in an engineering field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with hall thrusters, ion thrusters, colloid thrusters, or other electric propulsion technologies
• Experience with gas feed systems and tanks
• Ability to create CAD models
• Ability to perform thermal, structural, and fluid analyses

In support of pay transparency at Lanteris Space Systems, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.

• The base pay for this position within California is: $104,000.00 - $173,000.00 annually.

For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees. More information on our benefits will be shared with candidates as they move forward in the recruitment process.

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.

The date of posting can be found on the Lanteris Space Systems Career page at the top of each job posting.

Lanteris Space Systems values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.