Senior Launch Automation Engineer
First seen by Alion on Aug 4, 2026. Darwin Recruitment scores B on the Alion truth index.
Senior Launch Automation Engineer
San Francisco, California | $140,000 to $180,000
Once the engines light, there is no second chance.
Everything that chills, fills and pressurises a rocket has to work first time, every time. That is what this role owns. You will build the models, design the controllers and write the automation that takes a vehicle from propellant loading through terminal count to liftoff.
We are hiring a Senior Launch Automation Engineer for a launch company in San Francisco. They have already flown. That matters, because the rookie mistakes most launch startups are still making have already been made, learned from and fixed here. Hardware is being built and hot fired on a regular basis, and launch cadence is climbing from frequent testing towards frequent operations.
What you will own
- Model the fluid, cryogenic and pneumatic systems that fuel and pressurise the vehicle, including propellant loading, tank pressurisation and two phase flow
- Size and specify volumes with the hardware team so the physical system matches the model
- Design the control loops and automation sequences that run countdown operations
- Build test automation across Simulink simulation, hardware in the loop rigs and CI/CD pipelines
- Work with propulsion, avionics and GNC on interfaces and system requirements
- Support countdown from mission control, watching fluid systems and reacting to anomalies live
- Use ground test and flight data to validate models and improve fidelity
What you will need
- 5+ years modelling and controlling physical systems, ideally fluid and thermal
- Strong MATLAB, Simulink and Simscape for physical system modelling
- Solid grounding in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and process control, including mass and energy balances and control loop design
- An advanced degree in chemical, mechanical or aerospace engineering, physics, or equivalent experience
- Clear communication, useful technical feedback, and the willingness to mentor
- Comfort in a fast moving, self directed environment where you set your own priorities
Nice to have
- Cryogenics, two phase flow or hazardous and high pressure fluid systems
- Chemical or process engineering, or propulsion background
- Launch vehicle ground support equipment (GSE) or propulsion test stand experience
- Hardware in the loop simulation and real time integration
- Verification through unit tests, SIL, HIL and Monte Carlo
Who tends to do well here
Process and chemical engineers with strong modelling skills who want to point them at spaceflight. Controls engineers who love physical system simulation and want their models running real launch sequences. Propulsion test engineers who have modelled engine or test stand fluids. Aerospace engineers with a thermal and fluids focus who want their hands on hardware.
This is a senior individual contributor role on a small team, so your work is visible and your decisions stick. It is 100% launcher focused and will stay that way.
Apply
Send your resume through this advert and we will come back to you with the full company details and hiring process. Darwin Space is a specialist space industry recruitment firm. All applications are treated in confidence.
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Adam Slade