In-Space Propulsion Lead

stokespacetechnologies · Kent, Washington · Kent, Washington, United States

<div class="content-intro">At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry. Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.</div>This is a new organization within Stoke, with a goal to develop products on a 3–10 year horizon that grow Stoke beyond launch. Nova moves mass to orbit. This group takes on what comes next: spacecraft and on-orbit mobility that move mass to any orbit, downmass that returns it to Earth, and the satellites, platforms and factories that put mass to work once it is there. The organization is small by design, and everyone here carries a second hat.  Description  As In-Space Propulsion Lead you own in-space propulsion for everything the new organization flies. The products this group builds will draw on the full range of in-space propulsion, from storable and cryogenic chemical systems to electric propulsion and the architectures that follow them. You will define the propulsion architecture for the group's products, lead the build-versus-acquire-versus-partner decision with real supplier and acquisition diligence, and carry the selected systems through design, qualification and flight. You take extreme ownership over design, analysis, manufacturing, test and validation, and you will help grow a propulsion capability the rest of the portfolio draws on. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.  Key responsibilities  <ul> <li>Define the propulsion architecture for the group's products: thrust, Isp and mass trades, propellant and propulsion-class selection, feed system approach, dwell and refuelability. </li> <li>Lead build-versus-acquire-versus-partner decisions for propulsion: technical and production diligence on suppliers and acquisition targets, cost and schedule models, and a recommendation to the leadership team. </li> <li>Own the design, analysis, manufacturing plan, test plan and qualification of the selected propulsion systems, from thrusters through feed system, tanks and pressurization. </li> <li>Own propellant management over the mission life: thermal control, pressurization, leakage and propellant budgets. </li> <li>Establish propulsion test capability, from component to system-level hot fire, using existing Stoke infrastructure where it fits and specifying new capability where it does not. </li> <li>Provide propulsion inputs to mission design and vehicle architecture trades partnering with various leads to develop the full system.  </li> <li>Lead root-cause investigations, risk mitigation, schedules and budgets for propulsion development. </li> <li>Help grow the propulsion team as the product matures. </li> </ul> Minimum qualifications  <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace or chemical engineering, physics or a related field. </li> <li>10+ years of propulsion experience, including in-space propulsion flight hardware you were accountable for from design through quali

Let Nod apply for you →

More jobs at stokespacetechnologies

Entry Level Aerospace Technician — stokespacetechnologies Assembly Technician - Aft End — stokespacetechnologies Executive Assistant - Boltline Leadership Team — stokespacetechnologies Flight System Safety Responsible Engineer — stokespacetechnologies GNC Engineer — stokespacetechnologies Senior Structures Design Engineer — stokespacetechnologies