Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer, Hall-Effect Thrusters

Telemetry Today LLC; Northern, Los Angeles (KY, CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Apex

Comprehensive healthcare

PTO starting at 15 days

401(k) with match

Parental leave

Daily catered lunch

Job summary

Apex Technology, Inc. is seeking a Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer to lead Hall-effect thruster development for spaceflight, from plasma physics to manufacturing.

You will guide architecture trade-offs, run qualification campaigns, and mentor propulsion engineers to scale EP capability across spacecraft platforms. The role demands deep hands-on Hall thruster experience, leading tests in vacuum facilities and ensuring reliability for mission life and propulsion budgets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/ Master’s in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion, physics or related field.
• 10+ years in electric propulsion with focus on Hall thrusters, or PhD with 3+ years in related field.
• Hands-on knowledge of Hall thruster physics and discharge channel design, magnetic circuit, anode/gas distribution.
• Experience planning Hall thruster/EP test campaigns in vacuum with diagnostics and life testing.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end Hall thruster design including discharge channel, magnetic circuit, anode and gas distributor, and thermal packaging.
• Lead plasma physics and performance modeling for ionization, acceleration, topology, efficiency, thrust-to-power, and ISP.
• Define and execute thruster test and life-qualification campaigns with performance mapping and wear testing.
• Establish erosion and life models; demonstrate compliance with mission life and budgets for power/thermal throughput.
• Drive cathode-thruster integration and EP system interfaces with propellant feed, PPU owners.
• Select materials and processes for spaceflight and high-rate production.
• Develop manufacturing work instructions and AI&T procedures for rate production.
• Collaborate with systems, power electronics, thermal, structures, and avionics teams to define interfaces.

Skills

Hall thruster design

Plasma physics

Electrical propulsion

Test campaigns

Failure analysis

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in a relevant field

PhD in electric propulsion or related field

Tools

Plasma diagnostics tools

Magnetic field/topology design (FEA)

Job description

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

About the Role

Apex is seeking a Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer with deep expertise in Hall-effect thrusters to serve as the technical authority for our Hall thruster development and production. Building on Apex's in-house Hall-effect thruster capability, you will own the thruster from plasma physics and discharge channel design through qualification, flight integration, and design-for-manufacturing at rate.

This is a Staff-level individual-contributor role with broad technical leadership scope. You will set the Hall thruster technical roadmap, drive key architecture and design trades, lead test and qualification campaigns, and mentor propulsion engineers as we scale our EP capability. As a technical anchor of Apex's EP team, you'll shape how high-performance Hall thrusters are designed for serial production and flown across our spacecraft platforms.

Responsibilities:

Own the end-to-end design of Apex's Hall-effect thrusters, including discharge channel geometry, magnetic circuit design, anode and gas distributor design, and thermal-mechanical packaging.

Lead the plasma physics and performance modeling that drives thruster design, including ionization and acceleration behavior, magnetic field topology, efficiency, thrust-to-power, and specific impulse across the operating envelope.

Define and execute thruster test and life-qualification campaigns, including performance mapping, plume characterization, thermal testing, oscillation and stability characterization, wear testing, and long-duration life testing in vacuum facilities.

Establish erosion, degradation, and life models for the discharge channel and pole pieces, and demonstrate compliance with mission life and propulsion budgets for power, thermal, throughput, and leak.

Drive cathode-thruster coupling and overall EP system integration in partnership with cathode, propellant feed-system, and PPU owners.

Select materials and processes, including ceramics, magnetic materials, and refractory metals, and qualify them for spaceflight and high-rate production.

Optimize thruster designs for performance, mass, cost, manufacturability, and repeatability, and develop the work instructions, process flows, and AI&T procedures required to build them at rate.

Partner with systems, power electronics, thermal, structures, and avionics teams to define interfaces, including PPU/thruster operating points and gimbal integration, and verify requirements.

Support the build, integration, and test of flight hardware, as well as launch campaigns, on-orbit performance evaluation, and anomaly resolution.

Lead failure analysis, root-cause investigations, and continuous design improvements to support future builds and scalable production.

Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the propulsion team and help build Apex's Hall thruster capability, team, and infrastructure.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics, or a related field.

10+ years of relevant electric propulsion experience with a Bachelor's or Master's degree, OR a Ph.D. in electric propulsion, plasma physics, applied physics, or a closely related field with 3+ years of relevant industry experience, with substantial and demonstrable focus on Hall-effect thruster design, development, and testing.

Deep, hands-on knowledge of Hall thruster physics and design, including discharge channel design, magnetic circuit layout, anode and gas distribution, cathode coupling, and thermal management.

Experience planning and executing Hall thruster or EP test campaigns in vacuum facilities, including plasma/plume diagnostics, performance measurement, and long-duration life/wear testing.

Strong understanding of the failure and degradation mechanisms that drive Hall thruster life, including channel and pole erosion, thermal limits, and discharge instabilities, and how to design and test against them.

Working knowledge of spacecraft propulsion system architecture, propellant feed systems, PPU interaction, and range safety requirements (e.g., SSCMAN 91-710).

Demonstrated technical leadership, including setting technical direction, driving complex design trades, and mentoring engineers.

Ability to decompose requirements and ICDs and communicate clearly across engineering disciplines.

Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15).

Nice to Have:

Direct experience taking a Hall thruster from clean-sheet design through flight qualification and on-orbit operation.

Experience with magnetically shielded, wall-less, and/or unshielded Hall thruster architectures.

Experience with alternative propellants, including krypton and other non-xenon EP propellants, and their effects on thruster performance and life.

Familiarity with Hall thruster plasma simulation tools, including particle-in-cell and hybrid codes, and magnetic FEA.

Familiarity with PPU/thruster drive electronics and power interface definition.

Design-for-manufacturing experience bringing propulsion hardware into serial or high-rate production.

Experience with EP environmental qualification, including vibration, TVAC, and EMI testing of flight propulsion hardware.

Why Join Apex?

Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too. We're a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding, and we invest heavily in our people from day one.

What We Offer For Full-time Employees:

Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create

Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost

Comprehensive PTO package to reset and recharge - starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays

Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%

8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel

Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day

Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family

Your dream desk setup and all the tools you need to be your most productive self

World-class Playa Vista office with the benefit of in-person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life

Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting-edge industries to make a lasting difference

Ready to join a team where your contributions matter and your future is bright? Let's build something extraordinary together.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Apex Technology, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.