Senior Propulsion Engineer, Structures Verified today

Apex Spacecraft · Los Angeles, CA · Propulsion · first seen 2026-09-29

About the Role

Apex is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to design propulsion modules that integrate onto Apex spacecraft at scale. You will own the mechanical design of the module, including structure, mounting and installation of flow controllers, PPUs, and thrusters, and the packaging that turns components into a single, buildable, flight-ready assembly.

The propulsion components you are integrating are designed and built in-house at Apex. You will work directly with the engineers who own our thrusters, cathodes, flow controllers, and PPUs, influencing their mechanical, thermal, and interface design so components and module are optimized together from the start.

You will also work closely with the manufacturing team throughout the design cycle, supporting first builds and incorporating feedback from the production floor as we scale. This is a senior individual-contributor role with significant design ownership and technical leadership scope on a team building propulsion modules for serial production.

Responsibilities

Own the mechanical design of propulsion modules, including module structures, mounting interfaces, and the installation of flow controllers, PPUs, thrusters, and other propulsion hardware
Design module structures to meet vehicle-level structural and environmental requirements, including launch loads, vibration, shock, and thermal environments, while conforming to vehicle ICDs
Define and manage the mechanical, thermal, and structural interfaces between propulsion components and the module, and between the module and spacecraft
Partner directly with Apex's in-house thruster, cathode, flow controller, and PPU teams to co-optimize component and module design, influencing component mounting, form factor, packaging, and interfaces early in the design cycle
Perform and review structural analysis, including hand calculations and FEA, to verify strength, stiffness, and margins and support fracture, fatigue, and random-vibration assessments
Design against mass, cost, and power budgets and drive engineering trades to keep the module within its allocations
Drive design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly to ensure modules are buildable and installable at rate, while designing for serviceability during fill, drain, and ground operations
Partner closely with manufacturing and production teams throughout the design cycle, walking designs through with technicians and production engineers, supporting first builds, and resolving issues on the floor
Incorporate manufacturing feedback into future design iterations to improve producibility, yield, repeatability, and build time as production scales
Own component and assembly drawings, tolerance stack-ups, fastening and torque specifications, and installation work instructions
Support the build, integration, and test of flight hardware and contribute to anomaly resolution, failure analysis, and root-cause investigations
Drive continuous design improvements across module generations to support future builds and scalable production
Provide technical mentorship to mechanical and integration engineers across the team

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering field
6+ years of relevant mechanical or aerospace engineering experience with a Bachelor's or Master's degree, OR a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a closely related field with 3+ years of relevant industry experience, with substantial experience in structural design and hardware installation/integration
Strong command of structural design and analysis, including load paths, strength and stiffness, fasteners and joints, tolerance stack-ups, hand calculations, and FEA
Experience designing hardware to survive launch and space environments, including vibration, shock, and thermal environments, and verifying designs against requirements
Experience installing and integrating discrete components, such as propulsion, avionics, fluidic, or other spacecraft hardware, into structural assemblies, including interface definition and ICD conformance
Proficiency with CAD, engineering drawings, and GD&T, with experience owning hardware from concept through release, build, and test
Experience working directly with manufacturing and production teams to transition designs into hardware and resolve build and integration issues
Ability to design against mass, cost, and power budgets and make sound engineering trades across competing requirements
Ability to communicate clearly and drive technical decisions across engineering, manufacturing, and production disciplines
Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15)

Nice to Have

Direct experience with spacecraft propulsion modules, feed systems, or propulsion component integration
Experience designing spacecraft or aerospace hardware for serial or high-rate production, including design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly
Familiarity with electric propulsion components, including thrusters, flow controllers, PPUs, and their mechanical, thermal, fluidic, and electrical interfaces
Experience with propellant feed-system routing, fluidic components, and cleanliness/contamination control
Experience collaborating directly with component design teams to co-optimize hardware and system-level integration
Experience supporting environmental qualification testing, including vibration, shock, and TVAC
Experience supporting flight hardware through integration, qualification, launch, and/or on-orbit operations

What We Offer

Equity in Apex
100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost
15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays
Competitive 401(k) plan with 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%
8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks
Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and family gatherings
Home office setup and tools for productivity
Playa Vista office with in-person collaboration and work-life flexibility