{"id":2896029,"url":"https://alion.io/job/gravitics-chief-engineer-spacecraft","title":"Chief Engineer - Spacecraft","company":{"id":10245,"name":"Gravitics","domain":"gravitics.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/gravitics","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":95,"open_postings":10,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":131,"computed_at":"2026-10-25T05:49:26Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"head","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Seattle, United States","Denver, United States","Washington, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":210000,"max":250000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":250000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":14,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Nastran","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-20T04:00:43Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-20","last_verified_at":"2026-10-25T22:43:38Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":5,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":5},"description":"Chief Engineer (Spacecraft)\nLocation: Denver, Colorado OR Marysville, Washington | Hybrid\nAbout Gravitics \nAt Gravitics, we're not just exploring space-we're building it. We're creating the infrastructure for a thriving space economy, enabling humanity to flourish beyond Earth. Our vision is bold, but we're not just dreamers; we're doers. We design and manufacture the large-scale structures and systems that will power human and robotic activity in Earth orbit and beyond. If you're ready to lay the foundations for a new era in space, embrace a culture of relentless learning and innovation, and contribute to a future where humanity's reach extends farther, Gravitics is the place for you. Let's build the future, together. \nAbout the Role \nGravitics is building a new orbital transfer vehicle to carry payloads to high-energy orbits, and we need one person to own it. As Chief Engineer, you will be the technical authority for the vehicle from architecture through first flight, leading all design, development, and integration efforts. You will apply your background in propulsion systems to develop, manufacture, integrate, and deliver a high delta-v high-thrust spacecraft.\nThis is a hands-on leadership role. You will lead the product development team, manage suppliers, lead mission and spacecraft analyses, and walk the floor during integration.\nResponsibilities: \nLead the Vehicle\nOwn the orbital transfer vehicle's system architecture, technical baseline, and requirements, from mission needs down to subsystem and component level.\nLead system-level trades across propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, GNC, and software, balancing performance, mass, schedule, cost, and risk.\nLead all design, development, and integration efforts, including major design reviews, vehicle assembly, integration and test, and flight readiness.\nAct as the vehicle's technical authority with customers, launch providers, and government partners.\nOwn the technical risk register, schedule, and budget for the vehicle.\nLead anomaly investigations to root cause and drive the fixes back into design, build, test, and operations.\nDeliver the Propulsion System\nArchitect a high delta-v bi-propellant propulsion system: main engine, reaction control, propellant storage and management, pressurization, and feed.\nPerform and review fluids, thermal, and structural analyses to define and verify system and component behavior, including delta-v and propellant budgets.\nOwn detailed requirements for tanks, valves, manifolds, tubing, and thrusters.\nDefine the qualification and acceptance test strategy, from component tests through integrated hotfire and vehicle-level testing.\nWork with manufacturing to build, integrate, and accept production hardware for flight.\nSupport propellant loading, launch campaign, and on-orbit propulsion operations.\nAbout You \nYou’re a successful candidate if you are a giver, not a taker. You make things happen. You are exceptional at several things, yet willing to take on efforts in areas of weakness. \nRequired Attributes \nDirect experience with in-space bi-propellant chemical propulsion systems, with at least one system taken from design through qualification and flight.\nDemonstrated technical leadership of a spacecraft, stage, or major vehicle subsystem across its full lifecycle.\nExperience technically managing an external supplier of engines, thrusters, or other complex flight hardware, including specifications, design reviews, and acceptance.\nAbility to understand structural, fluid, and thermal designs from first principles.\nWorking knowledge of spacecraft systems engineering: requirements, interfaces, verification, and risk management.\nFamiliarity with CAD and FEA packages such as NX and NASTRAN or similar.\n14+ years of industry experience.\nBachelor's degree in an applicable field.\nBonus Points for \nExperience on an orbital transfer vehicle, kick stage, upper stage, lander, or other high delta-v spacecraft.\nExperience designing test or flight fluid systems for high pressure gases or liquids.\nHands-on engine or thruster hotfire test experience, including combustion devices.\nFamiliarity with safety critical systems, pressure vessels, relief devices, igniters/exciters, and propellant loading operations.\nFamiliarity with NASA, DoD, and range safety standards for spaceflight propulsion and pressure systems.\nExperience with prop/fluid system analysis tools such as ROCETS, GFSSP, CEA, TDK.\nExperience building and leading small, high-performing engineering teams.\nExperience supporting U.S. government customers, and the ability to obtain a security clearance.\nSalary Range\n$210,000—$250,000 USD","description_format":"text","description_chars":4645,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":14,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace","Launch Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-20T04:52:20Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":5,"expected_fill_days":131,"reasons":["conf:2","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-25T05:49:26Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":250000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/gravitics-chief-engineer-spacecraft","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/gravitics-chief-engineer-spacecraft.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-25T23:15:32Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":32725,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-26T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":10245},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=10245"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fgravitics-chief-engineer-spacecraft"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fgravitics-chief-engineer-spacecraft"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fgravitics-chief-engineer-spacecraft"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/gravitics-chief-engineer-spacecraft\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fgravitics-chief-engineer-spacecraft"}]}