Propulsion Engineer - Test
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.
Propulsion Engineer - Test
As our Propulsion Engineer - Test, you will oversee propulsion component and system level test plan definition, test equipment design & build, and testing itself. A primary goal for this position is to increase the level of automation used in propulsion testing. You will work cross-functionally to ensure stakeholder and industry requirements are met while also considering cost and schedule implications of testing.
Role
- Design, build, test, and qualify tests and test equipment for Astranis propulsion systems
- All this with a focus on automation of tests and test equipment
- Perform component and system level design, analysis, and trade studies for test equipment
- Develop and execute component and system level test plans
- Work closely with other teams to complete tasks
- Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in a technical discipline (e.g. engineering, physics)
- 3+ years of industry experience with propulsion system testing
- Including being familiar with industry and Range Safety standards and requirements
- A passion for testing, including working in a fast-paced environment and doing hands-on design/development
- Demonstrated ability to personally design, build, and test hardware from scratch
- Must be onsite 5 days a week
Bonus
- Demonstrated experience in designing, testing, and operating spacecraft propulsion systems
- Specific experience with low thrust monopropellant and green monopropellant systems
- Experience with propulsion system process development including manifold manufacturing and welding
- Experience with Python (Numpy, Scipy), C++, and Git
- Familiarity with reading and writing technical standards
- Familiarity with propellant material compatibility
- Familiarity with weld and weld inspection standards and best practices
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.
Check your CV against this role
Drop your CV. You get a 0-100 fit score against the actual job description, plus the read a senior engineering lead would write. Private to you.
Score this once, or every future role
Start the candidate journey and every new role on the board gets scored against you.
Five minutes. Tell us what you’re after, drop your CV once, pick how we should reach out. You get a candid read back and you only hear from us when a role fits.