Senior Propulsion Engineer

San Francisco

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Senior Propulsion Engineer 

As our Senior Propulsion Engineer, you will be a leader in designing, building, and testing our propulsion systems. You will use your experience to improve the performance of our systems, design propulsion systems from clean sheet, and to provide mentorship to younger engineers on the team. You will be a part of the test and production of many satellites that will provide service to underserved areas.

Role

  • Become a technical leader and help shape the future of propulsion systems at Astranis
  • Design, analyze, and document in-space propulsion systems to meet existing and future mission requirements
  • Define and execute on qualification campaigns for propulsion components and systems
  • Establish how we fly and operate our spacecrafts for 10+ years
  • Develop strong relationships with vendors, ensuring their hardware meets our flight requirements before arriving at the factory
  • Support assembly integration and test processes through launch including troubleshooting issues with spacecraft propulsion system
  • Work across teams to solve problems and meet goals in a highly collaborative work environment
  • Mentor entry level engineers and interns and support hiring initiatives

Requirements

  • Bachelor's Degree or higher in a technical discipline (e.g. engineering, physics) or equivalent experience
  • 7+ years of propulsion industry experience in a design, test, or manufacture related role
  • Experience with 3D CAD, mechanical design, fabrication, and environmental qualification
  • Previous aerospace or similar product design and production experience (full product development cycle)
  • Hands-on experience working with fluid or gas feed systems
  • Working knowledge of in space electric and chemical propulsion systems

Bonus

  • Experience with propulsion or fluid component design
  • Direct experience with structural or fluid analysis tools (GFSSP, ANSYS, Fluent, etc)
  • Familiarity with AFSPCMAN 91-710 and other Range Safety documentation and requirements
  • Experience writing Python for scientific calculation and data processing
  • Familiarity with mission operations for satellites
  • Specific experience with low thrust monopropellant, green monopropellant, and electric propulsion systems
What we offer: 
 
All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.
 

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary

$145,000 - $235,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required
(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))
 
Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.

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