Propulsion Engineer 1404

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Propulsion Engineer (Aeronautical Engineer 2)

Job Description

This role supports the Mechanical Engineering Energetics department, focusing on propulsion systems for launch vehicles, missile systems, and space mission systems. You will contribute to hardware development, procurement, and testing, and perform ordnance, pneumatic, hydraulic, and motor analysis and integration activities. The position is based on-site in Chandler, AZ and is intended as a contract-to-hire opportunity aligned with a full-time Propulsion Engineer role, working on advanced military and defense programs and space-based interceptor technologies.

Responsibilities

• Perform analysis, design, and testing of moderately complex materials, including energetics, structural components, and control systems for propulsion systems.
• Apply engineering principles, industry standards, company standards, and customer requirements to develop propulsion systems for launch vehicles, missile systems, and space mission systems.
• Select and apply analytical data from previous products, define technical principles, formulate engineering problems, and compute engineering characteristics that meet specifications and design needs.
• Coordinate strategies for developing and leveraging multi-disciplinary design, optimization, and analysis processes to support mission requirements.
• Define and coordinate the conduct of testing required to evaluate design work and validate performance.
• Provide hands-on test support for pneumatic and hydraulic components and systems, including functional and environmental testing.
• Serve as the responsible engineer leading an Integrated Product Team for a medium-sized subcontract, coordinating supplier change notifications, non-conformances, and hardware acceptance reviews.
• Conduct pre-launch engineering reviews, examine as-built vehicle hardware and pre-launch data, assess flight readiness, and collaborate with flight field teams.
• Perform trade studies and evaluate alternative designs to optimize performance, cost, and risk.
• Study basic design concepts and criteria for complex materials, components, or functional systems and apply engineering principles to develop new designs.
• Anticipate customer needs and propose innovative solutions to meet and exceed those needs.
• Originate and develop constructive ideas, continuously seeking ways to improve existing methods and processes.
• Determine engineering tasks required for project planning and execution, including detailed planning, conceptual designs, and risk analysis.
• Analyze project requirements and develop engineering plans that align with schedule, budget, and technical objectives.
• Interact with internal and external customers, assisting in defining system requirements and generating specifications for products or subsystems.
• Develop and present materials for project-related briefings and design reviews to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support new business development efforts and prepare technical proposal material.
• Travel up to approximately 10% of the time to supplier locations and launch facilities as needed.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) with at least 2 years of related engineering experience, or a Master’s degree in STEM with 0 years of related engineering experience.
• Experience with pneumatics, specifically high-pressure gas systems.
• Experience with ordnance, explosives, energetics, or pyrotechnic devices, including applications such as cutting bolts and similar mechanisms.
• Experience with rocket motor design, including solid rocket motors or liquid rocket engines.
• Experience in missile, launch vehicle, booster, defense, or aerospace industry.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance or higher.
• Hands-on experience with pneumatic and hydraulic components and systems, including functional and environmental testing.
• Ability to lead an Integrated Product Team and coordinate with subcontractors and suppliers.
• Experience conducting design reviews, trade studies, and engineering assessments of complex systems.
• Proficiency in interpreting specifications and requirements and translating them into practical engineering solutions.
• Ability to develop and deliver technical presentations and briefings to internal and external customers.
• Familiarity with configuration change management and supply chain coordination for technical hardware.
• Experience with failure investigation techniques applied to mechanical or propulsion systems.
• Regular use of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) in engineering activities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering degree.
• Active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance at the time of application.
• Approximately 2 years of experience using MATLAB and Python for analysis and data processing.
• Approximately 2 years of environmental testing experience.
• Experience operating data acquisition equipment in an engineering lab environment.
• Experience with configuration change management tools and processes.
• Experience in supply chain management of subcontractors for technical hardware.
• Experience presenting technical data and design information to internal and external customers.
• Experience supporting new business efforts and preparing technical proposal material.
• Interest in working on launch vehicles, missile defense, and offensive strike weapon systems.
• Ability to travel up to approximately 10% to supplier and launch facilities.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to originate and develop innovative ideas.
• Ability to anticipate customer needs and propose effective engineering solutions.

Work Environment

This position is based on-site at an office and engineering lab in Chandler, AZ, supporting advanced military and defense programs and space-based interceptor technologies. The role offers a 9/80 work schedule, with one week at 36 hours and the following week at 44 hours, providing every other Friday off. You will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, suppliers, and launch facility personnel, using a combination of office tools, data acquisition equipment, and lab test setups for pneumatic, hydraulic, and propulsion systems. The environment emphasizes rigorous testing, configuration management, and collaboration with internal and external customers. Dress code is business casual. The contract-to-hire structure offers the potential to transition to a full-time role with competitive pay and benefits, including a 401(k) match and potential discretionary company contributions.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chandler, AZ.

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $55.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Chandler,AZ.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 4, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.