Back to jobs
New

Senior Engineer – Multimode Propulsion

Hawthorne, CA

Who We’re Looking For

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

We are seeking a Senior Engineer to take technical ownership of propellant decomposition concepts, architectures, and flight hardware designs to enable Multimode In-Space propulsion, for ultimate flexibility across Chemical and Electric Propulsion operations. Our game-changing Multimode architecture starts with a single propellant, to provide flexible on-demand, on-orbit chemical and electric maneuverability.

In this role, you will lead and drive the technical evaluation and development, from concept through flight hardware, for the enabling propellant decomposition technology and designs. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who thrives in a hands-on environment and is ready to lead technical execution from concept through flight qualification and subsequent mission operation.

Where You’ll Make an Impact

  • Perform trade studies and technical evaluation to drive spacecraft and propulsion system architecture decisions
  • Identify and implement relevant chemical reactions and decomposition processes
  • Design, build, and test propellant conversion and associated fluid delivery systems, with required thermal considerations and management
  • Own and execute hardware development across the full product lifecycle, including requirements definition, design, component and material selection, analysis, build, test, and flight support
  • Serve as a technical contributor and mentor within a cross-disciplinary engineering team
  • Collaborate closely with systems, design engineering, manufacturing, test, and operations teams to deliver flight-ready hardware on an aggressive schedule

What It Takes

  • BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related science or engineering field
  • 7+ years R&D engineering experience, with sustained ownership of complex hardware development 
  • Experience in design of fluidic systems and components, including liquid and gas phase
  • Working knowledge of heat transfer and design practices for active heating design, thermal management, and fluidics management
  • Working knowledge or ability to quickly learn about chemical decomposition reactions (e.g. thermal, catalytic)  
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving R&D environment
  • Work location within the LA area

Nice-to-Have Experience

  • Experience with chemical propulsion (CP) and electric propulsion (EP), including relevant propellants
  • Experience with material compatibility assessment, including fluid-surface material interactions, to guide materials selection and technical risk reduction
  • Experience with CAD tools and configuration-controlled hardware development
  • Fielded space hardware (design principles, relevant standards, flight qualification, full product lifecycle)

What You’ll Get

  • Leadership – Technical leadership and ownership for critical enabling technology  
  • Innovation – Develop, build, and test next generation spacecraft propulsion systems
  • Impact – See your work fly on unique, high-profile missions.
  • Growth – Opportunities to lead, mentor, and grow technical depth and breadth
  • Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity participation.

Location: Rockville, MD

Compensation: $130,000 to $185,000 Annual Salary Depending on Experience

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Apply now. Help build the next step forward in game changing space mobility.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Quantum Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.