Space Valve Engineer

Shift: 1 st shift (6:30am – 3:00pm). Full Time, Mon-Fri, 9/80 schedule.

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including customer-facing interaction.

Zenix Aerospace is currently hiring the following position:

Title: Space Valve Engineer (Space Valves)

Shift: 1 st shift (6:30am – 3:00pm). Full Time, Mon-Fri, 9/80 schedule.

Facility & Location: Ketema, El Cajon, CA

Who is Zenix Aerospace?

We are a global leader uniting decades of expertise under one name. Zenix Aerospace™ is a leading supplier of structural airframe and engine components to the global aerospace and space industries. A critical supplier across all major fuel‑efficient commercial narrowbody platforms with a global footprint in eight strategic locations across the US, UK, and Southeast Asia. We deliver on time, to the highest standards of quality and safety, as a trusted partner in aerospace excellence.

We are the leading partner in aerospace engineering uniting global expertise with a shared vision, we design and deliver high‑technology aerospace components that keep aircraft and space systems flying safely, reliably, and efficiently. With a global footprint, decades of engineering heritage, and a future‑focused approach to digital innovation, we are trusted by the world’s leading aerospace companies to deliver consistent excellence. Together, we are elevating aerospace.

Who is Zenix Aerospace Ketema?

Zenix Aerospace Ketema is a leading provider of components for aircraft and turbine engine builders, as well as precision products for space, marine and ground-based applications. Zenix Aerospace Ketema specializes in producing complex fabrications and machined components from titanium and nickel alloys.

What Does the Job Involve?

We are seeking a Space Valve Engineer to join our team to work on cryogenic valve systems for space applications. This role is responsible for shaping the engineering strategy, defining product requirements, collaborating directly with customers, and guiding the design and development of cryogenic valves for space vehicles. This position owns the end‑to‑end technical lifecycle of space valve products from concept architecture, CAD design, and analysis through qualification, production, and sustainment both for new and existing products. You will help align engineering decisions with customer needs, long‑term product strategy, and Zenix Aerospace’s space growth initiatives.

The engineer will have a strong understanding of technical requirements necessary to develop and/or redesign existing valve products for various applications and be able to develop and communicate requirements internally and externally for analysis, modeling, testing and qualification.

What Will My Responsibilities Include?

• Define and refine customer and system‑level requirements; translate these into technical design specifications for cryogenic valves.
• Partner directly with customers to shape technical strategy, development scope, and long‑term product roadmaps.
• Lead concept development, detailed design, modeling, analysis, and engineering documentation. Coordination with sub‑tiers for some of these activities may be required.
• Guide the complete valve lifecycle: architecture, prototyping, qualification test planning, and production support.
• Conduct trade studies to produce architecture and designs that satisfy system requirements based on existing products.
• Lead technical reviews including PDRs, CDRs, data reviews, and design assessments.
• Develop qualification, acceptance, and functional test plans; support test execution and resolution of anomalies.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing teams during valve builds and test operations.
• Serve as technical liaison to suppliers, driving design requirements and resolving technical challenges.
• Lead root‑cause failure investigations and corrective action implementation.
• Provide strategic technical input to estimating, operations, planning, and supply chain to support new programs.
• Mentor junior engineers and help structure engineering processes, standards, and best practices for the new department.
• Serve as technical expert to help inform customer of clean sheet design and analysis requirements for valve systems.

What Key Skills Do I Need?

• Experience designing, building, and testing valves for aerospace or industrial applications,
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals: thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, control systems, cryogenics, structural mechanics.
• Proficiency with GD&T, tolerance stackups, material selection, and precision technical drawings.
• Strong requirements development and flow‑down experience (SOWs, spec documents, test procedures).
• Proficiency with SolidWorks (preferred) or similar CAD platforms.
• Knowledge of hydraulic, pneumatic, and cryogenic fluid‑control systems.
• Working knowledge of technical valve assembly and product acceptance testing (PAT).
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including customer-facing interaction.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with aerospace development programs involving cryogenic or high‑pressure fluid systems.
• Deep knowledge of LOX, cryogenic propellants, high‑pressure pneumatics, hydraulics, and fluid system design.
• Hands‑on experience designing valves or components exposed to cryogenic or high‑pressure environments.
• Familiarity with aerospace standards and space qualification practices.
• Experience collaborating with suppliers, driving development schedules, and supporting manufacturing and testing.
• Proficiency with instrumentation used in fluid‑system testing (pressure transducers, thermocouples, load cells, flowmeters).

What Qualifications Should I Have?

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an accredited college preferred or equivalent experience.

Experience:

• 5 years minimum; Design and Manufacturing experience; Aerospace strongly preferred.

Why Join Zenix Aerospace?

Joining Zenix Aerospace means not only a rewarding career with a tight‑knit and collaborative team, but you will also enjoy a competitive compensation package that includes a market‑led base salary, a comprehensive benefits package along with wellness benefits, employee recognition program, matching 401k plan, paid vacation, employee wellness activities, tuition reimbursement, and community involvement initiatives.

Access to our facility (and, therefore, employment) is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, U.S. refugees, asylees or temporary residents under amnesty provisions [as defined in 8 USC 1324b(a)(3)] and properly licensed foreign persons. Applicants receiving a conditional offer of employment will be required to provide information to determine whether they are subject to these regulations and, if so, to assess their country of chargeability for trade compliance control purposes. Additionally, potential employee’s names will be screened against the Consolidated Screening List (maintained by the United States government) to determine eligibility to receive technical data.

If offer of employment is made it will be contingent upon passing all of the following: Drug Test, Background Check, ITAR and U.S. Export Compliance Screening.

Equal Opportunity Employer: minority/female/disability/veteran

1st shift (6:30am – 3:00pm). Full Time, Mon-Fri, 9/80 schedule.

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