{"id":1884451,"url":"https://alion.io/job/karman-space-defense-propulsion-engineer-iii","title":"Propulsion Engineer III","company":{"id":2310318,"name":"Karman Space & Defense","domain":"karman-sd.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/karman-sd","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"ADP","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":19,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":23,"computed_at":"2026-10-19T05:45:15Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Mukilteo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":120000,"max":155000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":155000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-01T22:41:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-01","last_verified_at":"2026-10-19T13:48:57Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":17,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":17},"description":"Propulsion Engineer III\nKarman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.\nThis role is part of our Tactical Missiles and Integrated Defense Systems business, which designs and develops integrated missile and defense systems that support critical missions across air, land, and sea. We combine comprehensive analysis, engineering, and program execution capabilities to deliver mission-tailored solutions that reduce lead times, lower costs, and simplify complex multi-vendor supply chains. Backed by decades of flight-proven and fielded performance, we design and build mission-critical technologies including launch systems, propulsion, payload integration solutions, UAV components, missile subsystems, and Safe & Arm systems.\nIn this role, you will lead solid rocket motor propulsion development, driving system-level ballistic modeling, component design, and test evaluation for advanced aerospace and defense programs. You will develop conceptual and detailed designs, verify analyses, support manufacturing and static fire testing, and collaborate across engineering teams to deliver mission-ready propulsion solutions that meet stringent performance and reliability requirements.\nResponsibilities\nSupports solid rocket propulsion system design across grain geometry, case design, insulation, inhibitors, igniters, and nozzles.\nConceptualizes, designs, and develops propulsion devices and systems based on customer requirements and engineering standards.\nPerforms full ballistic modeling, including propellant selection, propellant sizing, nozzle sizing, insulation and inhibitor definition, and overall performance analysis.\nPerforms or supports thermal, ablation, and erosion analyses when applicable.\nCreates 2-D layouts and 3-D solid models to define propulsion concepts and configurations.\nVerifies calculations, ballistic models, and analysis work completed by peers and junior engineers.\nDocuments performance requirements, test plans, test procedures, test reports, and compliance evidence.\nReviews propulsion designs for cost, manufacturability, and quality considerations.\nCreates engineering drawings, bills of materials, manufacturing requirements, and inspection specifications.\nSupports manufacturing, assembly, quality assurance, testing, and deployment throughout the propulsion development lifecycle.\nProvides technical support to internal teams, external customers, and business development activities.\nSupports bench and field testing, including static fire test setup and instrumentation selection.\nEvaluates static fire test data, including acoustic stability, delivered impulse, pressure, and thrust behavior.\nMentors junior engineers and provides technical guidance in propulsion system development.\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, or a related field; or equivalent relevant experience.\nTypically 4-10 years of aerospace or defense engineering experience.\nStrong understanding of propulsion systems and internal ballistics modeling.\nProven experience developing propulsion internal ballistic models, preferably for solid rocket motors.\nKnowledge of military and commercial design specifications.\nA current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.\nPreferred Qualifications\nMaster’s degree or advanced degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, or a related field.\nExperience with thermal, ablation, or erosion analysis.\nExperience with acoustic stability analysis.\nExperience with igniter sizing.\nKnowledge of CAD/CAE tools relevant to mechanical systems design.\nFamiliarity with ASME Y14.5 and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).\nCasting tooling experience.\nBenefits\nMedical, dental, and vision insurance\n401(k) with company match\nPaid time off\nHealth Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution\nFlexible Spending Accounts (FSA)\nCompany-paid life and AD&D insurance\nShort- and long-term disability coverage\nTuition reimbursement\nKarman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4777,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":4,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":true},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Manufacturing","Military","Defense Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-05T01:29:48Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":41,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.552,"p_room":0.75,"age_days":17,"expected_fill_days":23,"reasons":["conf:0","stale_co","velocity","win:late","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-19T05:45:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":155000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/karman-space-defense-propulsion-engineer-iii","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/karman-space-defense-propulsion-engineer-iii.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-19T17:30:14Z","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":13273,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-20T00:00:00Z"}},"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":2310318},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2310318"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fkarman-space-defense-propulsion-engineer-iii"},{"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%2Fkarman-space-defense-propulsion-engineer-iii"},{"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%2Fkarman-space-defense-propulsion-engineer-iii"},{"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/karman-space-defense-propulsion-engineer-iii\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fkarman-space-defense-propulsion-engineer-iii"}]}