Senior Chemical Propulsion Engineer

Senior Chemical Propulsion Engineer

Apex is seeking a Senior Chemical Propulsion Engineer to join our closely integrated team, driving the development of our chemical propulsion systems to meet the requirements of our spacecraft bus. You will have the opportunity to approach this from a clean-sheet design, guiding propulsion system architecture, integration, and testing to ensure optimal performance. You will also be the first chemical propulsion engineer at Apex Space, and will help build our chemical propulsion capabilities, team, and infrastructure from the ground up.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and test chemical propulsion systems
• Design and build propulsion infrastructure and test facilities
• Design propulsion system architecture, develop product specifications, and maintain Technical Performance Metrics (TPMs)
• Develop qualification and acceptance test plans and support said testing
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate propulsion systems with other subsystems (e.g., electrical, thermal, structure)
• Troubleshoot anomalies that arise during manufacturing, lead investigation efforts, and ensure design for manufacturability (DFM) approaches are followed during all stages of development
• Directly interface with customer/supplier relationships, conduct analyses, and provide support (either virtual or onsite) as necessary.
• Contribute to proposals and business development efforts as needed.

Requirements:

• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, propulsion, or other aerospace-related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of propulsion design and test experience
• Experience with mono and bi-propellant chemical propulsion systems
• Experience with handling and testing pressurized systems
• Demonstrated history of designing fluidic systems, fluid system instrumentation, and control components (i.e. tanks, regulators, pressure transducers, thermocouples, solenoid valves, etc.)
• Experience with CAD software (NX, SolidWorks)
• Working knowledge for manufacturing in a clean environment and following AS9100 protocols

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or Ph.D in mechanical, propulsion, or other aerospace-related engineering discipline
• Experience operating leak, burst, proof test facilities
• Experience leading hot-fire test campaigns (power and fluid delivery systems for ground test, data acquisition systems, thrust stands, and plume diagnostics).
• Experience with chemical propulsion operations in space