Sr. Propulsion Engineer

Astrobotic Technology, Inc. is a space robotics company that seeks to make space accessible to the world.  The company’s suite of lunar landers delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits, and individuals.  The company is also developing advanced space robotics capabilities such as terrain relative navigation, mobile robotics for lunar surface operations, and reliable computing systems for mission-critical applications.  Originally spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, Astrobotic is pioneering affordable planetary access that promises to spark a new era of exploration, science, tourism, resource utilization, and mining.  Astrobotic’s headquarters is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a second location in Mojave, California.

Astrobotic is enabling sustainable access and utilization of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Through its recent acquisition of Masten Space Systems, we’ve been building and flying reusable rockets for nearly two decades with the most successful rocket-powered landings in the industry. We work directly with NASA, defense, and commercial customers to develop the tech it takes to break down the barriers to space. Together, we’ll make wild napkin ideas possible by taking them from the lab, to the test site, all the way to the lunar surface and beyond. 

This position will be involved in development and evolution of Astrobotic’s portfolio of propulsion technologies and testing capabilities.  Applicants should have a background in propulsion system design and analysis as well as extensive hands-on testing experience, ideally including engine testing and flight operations. Experience with cryo propulsion systems required.  Hypergol experience a plus. More than one applicant may be hired under this job requisition.

Please include the following items with your application:

• Up-to-date Resume
• Project Portfolio (Your portfolio should show projects you have worked on in a hands-on capacity. School projects, prior work projects, or even home projects are acceptable. Include pictures and descriptions of what your part in the project was if it was a team project.)

Job Responsibilites: 

• Provide engineer and management expertise in the area of design, development, and testing of crynogenic propulsion systems.
• Effective people and process management, particularly an ability to understand and read team member well-being in a high-pressure test environment
• Serving as Test Conductor or test support for component and integrated system testing, potentially including Xogdor and Xodiac flight vehicles
• Conceptual and detailed design and test of Dual-Cryo propulsion systems including items such as combustion chambers, injectors, pre-burners, gas generators, turbines, pumps, valves, propellant feed systems, tanks, and pressurization systems 
• Leading and conducting propulsion system and FMECA risk analysis  
• CFD and multi-physics modeling, including propellant slosh and pogo oscillations 
• Developing component and assembly specifications 
• Developing fabrication and assembly schematics and procedures for engines and GSE 
• Developing and running component testing 
• Providing mentorship and guidance to less experienced technical team members - potentially up to 5 teammates 
• Provide technical guidance to fabricators and technicians  
• System manufacturing and testing
• Work with system engineers to develop propulsion requirements from system requirements
• Support project management by providing task lists and task dependencies, estimating labor and material cost requirements

Required Skills & Qualifications:  

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, or engineering physics 
• 8+ years of professional experience working with combustion devices or fluid systems 
• 5+ years' experience in engine test
• Experience using CAD (Solidworks preferred) to design parts/assemblies 
• Experience developing hardware from concept to working prototypes 
• Experience safely testing with and handling hazardous materials (cryogens, hypergols, high pressure gas)
• Hands-on project experience, preferably as a team or sub-team lead 
• Experience with various propulsion system cycles and their benefits and nuances 
• Experience with cryogenic and supercritical fluid behavior
• Conjugate heat transfer analysis experience with high heat flux heat exchangers 
• Analytical/scientific programming experience (Python, C/C++, and/or Matlab) 
• Development of subsystem requirements from system requirements
• Openness to learning and mentoring on Astrobotic design and test philosophies from existing team

Desired Skills & Qualifications:  

• Experience leveraging additive manufacturing in engine design
• Experience with design and/or test of hypergolic propellant propulsion systems 
• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or aeronautical/astronautical engineering 
• Familiarity with explosive hazard calculations
• Fortran programming language
• Solidworks CAD
• FLUENT CFD
• NASA propulsion and fluid system design and analysis software
• 8+ years of professional experience in propulsion design or testing
• Design of the ground support equipment (GSE) and tooling for engine manufacturing, testing, and maintenance.

Salary Range: $110,000 - $165,000

The base salary range represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The actual base salary offered for this position will depend on numerous factors including individual performance, business objectives, and the candidates professional experience.  Base salary is just one component of Astrobotic’s competitive total rewards strategy.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Astrobotic Technology, Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to contact@astrobotic.com.