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Please find the job description below and let me know your interest.
Position: Sr. Propulsion Engineer
Location: Onsite in Long Beach, CA or Centennial CO
Duration: 6 months of contract then full time
Mode of Interview: Video
Company Overview
Client is a privately held aerospace and defense company founded in 2022 by Even Rogers, Daniel Brunski, and Kyle Zakrzewski. Headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, it also has a major facility in Long Beach, California. The company builds space-focused AI and software-integrated spacecraft systems to support secure and sustainable access to orbital environments. Its mission is to ensure space superiority for the U.S., its allies, and commercial partners by combining spacecraft, software, and autonomy.
Core Technologies & Products
Jackal: A multirole space superiority spacecraft platform with modular architecture for contested space environments.
Mosaic: An autonomy platform that translates operator intent into precise, autonomous spacecraft actions.
Lynx: A payload designed for Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Tactical Responsive Space (TacRS) missions, offering high-performance imaging in a compact, scalable package
YOUR MISSION
As a Senior Combustion Devices Design Engineer at True Anomaly, you will own the full lifecycle of combustion device development - from architecture trades through flight delivery. You will serve as the team's subject matter expert on injectors, regeneratively cooled thrust chambers, acoustic stability, and high-temperature materials, bringing hands-on mastery of design tools and modern manufacturing methods including additive manufacturing. This is your opportunity to design and develop the next generation of in-space propulsion systems and directly shape the future of on-orbit capabilities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead combustion device design: Own the design, analysis, and optimization of combustion chambers, injectors, regen cooling circuits, nozzles, and flow systems for advanced satellite and space vehicle thrusters - from concept through flight qualification.
Apply regenerative cooling expertise: Develop and validate regenerative cooling designs for thrust chambers, supporting and/or performing thermal and structural analysis to ensure margin and reliability across the full operating envelope.
Drive combustion performance and stability: Use CEA and other combustion analysis tools to predict performance and guide design decisions. Apply knowledge of combustion instability mechanisms to design and validate acoustic cavities and other passive suppression features.
Leverage additive manufacturing: Champion the use of AM processes - including designs in Inconel and other high-temperature superalloys - to accelerate development cycles, reduce part count, and enable geometries not achievable through conventional manufacturing.
Collaborate with suppliers and partners: Work closely with engine and thruster suppliers to interpret hot-fire and cold-flow test data and translate findings into future design improvements.
Lead robust trade studies: Define thruster and engine architecture, select components, and support build campaigns from initial design through integration and test.
Build team capability: Mentor junior engineers, develop best practices, analysis tools, checklists, and design release templates that scale with the team.
Review and release hardware: Review CAD models and engineering drawings to GD&T standards, providing direct technical feedback and design guidance.
Contribute to continuous improvement: Drive initiatives that enhance design efficiency, manufacturability, and system-level performance.
Spacecraft propulsion
Satellite propulsion
Flight systems
Thruster development
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
8+ years of professional experience in liquid rocket engine or thruster development.
Hands-on combustion device design: Demonstrated experience designing injectors, combustion chambers, regen nozzles, valves, and nozzle extensions.
Regenerative cooling design: Practical experience sizing and validating regen cooling circuits for thrust chambers, including thermal margin and pressure drop analysis.
CEA proficiency: Demonstrated experience running NASA CEA (or equivalent) to predict propellant performance, O/F sensitivity, and nozzle expansion trade studies.
Combustion instability expertise: Familiarity with acoustic combustion instability modes and experience designing acoustic cavities or other suppression features.
High-temperature alloys: Experience designing and specifying hardware in Inconel, Haynes, or other high-temperature superalloys for propulsion applications.
Additive manufacturing: Experience leveraging AM (SLM, DMLS, or equivalent) in the design and development of propulsion hardware.
CAD proficiency with engineering drawing generation to GD&T standards.
Operational experience in aerospace build, integration, and test environments.
Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
U.S. Citizen, eligible for DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (advanced degrees count toward years of experience).
Experience designing, building, testing, and qualifying thruster or engine components through hot-fire, cold-flow, and leak/checkout campaigns.
Direct team leadership and mentorship of junior propulsion engineers.
Familiarity with the full vehicle lifecycle from concept through production.
Track record of innovative problem-solving in complex mechanical and thermodynamic design challenges.
Experience in a startup or similarly resource-constrained, high-tempo environment.
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Thanks & Regards
Mohit Kumar
Lead IT Recruiter, KPG99
Contact: +1 |
3240 E STATE ST EXT Hamilton, NJ 08619
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