{"id":1626328,"url":"https://alion.io/job/spacenexus-propulsion-sme-engineer-thruster-systems","title":"Propulsion SME Engineer – Thruster Systems","company":{"id":2086894,"name":"SpaceNexus","domain":"spacenexus.us","url":"https://alion.io/company/spacenexus","size_band":"1-10","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Schema","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":100,"open_postings":4,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":13,"computed_at":"2026-10-25T05:49:26Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Houston, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":126000,"max_usd":248000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":1340},"experience_years_min":15,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-25T12:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-25","last_verified_at":"2026-10-25T01:46:57Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":29,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":29},"description":"Axiom Space is building the world’s first commercial space station - Axiom Station. Serving as a cornerstone for sustained human presence in space, this next-generation orbital platform fosters groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity, and cultivates the vibrant, global space economy of tomorrow. Today, driven by the vision of leading humanity's journey off planet,\nAxiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services to the International Space Station and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and low-Earth orbit. Axiom Space is building era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy that will empower our civilization to transcend Earth for the benefit of every human, everywhere.\nAxiom Space fosters a work environment inclusive of all perspectives. We are the pioneers of commercial space, leading the transformation of low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace. Our mission-driven team is seeking a bold and dynamic Propulsion SME Engineer - Thruster Systems who is fueled by high ownership, execution horsepower, growth mindset, and driven to understand our world, science/technology, and life itself, for the benefit of all on Earth and beyond.\nPOSITION SUMMARY\nWe are looking for a resilient, high-energy, experienced Propulsion SME Engineer - Thruster Systems to own the end-to-end technical execution of a bipropellant thruster from requirements definition through design, build, integration, test, and flight readiness. You will lead cross-functional teams and suppliers to deliver to aggressive cost and schedule targets while maintaining safety and configuration discipline. The ideal candidate combines deep hands-on propulsion hardware experience with strong technical leadership, clear communication, and a bias for execution.\nKEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES\nOwns the end-to-end technical execution of bipropellant thruster assemblies including combustion chambers, injectors, nozzles, igniters, and associated valves/instrumentation - from requirements through, design, build, integration, test and flight readiness.\nServe as a subject matter expert in thruster design, providing technical authority on system architecture, sizing, fluid/thermal/structural analyses, materials/manufacturability, and performance optimization across the full development lifecycle.\nPerform detailed modeling, analysis and simulation of thruster assemblies using tools such as ANSYS, Fluent, TDK, CEA, etc to evaluate combustion performance, thermal effects, structural margins and transient behaviors.\nPerform component sizing and selection for thruster assemblies, ensuring compatibility with performance, thermal, structural, safety and compatibility requirements.\nDesign, plan and execute thruster development, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns define instrumentation requirements, execute test planning and perform data correlation to anchor and validate analytical models.\nLead and participate in internal and external design and gate reviews, trade studies, and subassembly integration activities; ensure compliance with system requirements and program milestones\nCoordinate and manage technical requirements and design verification activities with external vendors and suppliers, interface on cost, schedule, design, manufacturing, and acceptance\nLead and participate in trade studies, component selection, and subassembly design and integration analyses in support of thruster development programs\nProvide technical mentorship and guidance to less experienced engineers\nResponsible for delivering against performance, safety, cost, and schedule targets\nQUALIFICATIONS:\nTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.\nEducation & Experience\nBachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related Engineering discipline required; advanced degree preferred\n15+ years of relevant experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion, with demonstrated depth in thruster or liquid rocket engine design and development\nSignificant hands-on experience with engine/thruster design, development, qualification, and integration - including injectors, combustion chambers, nozzles, igniters, and thermal management interfaces\nExpertise in combustion, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics with demonstrated application to thruster performance and thermal analysis\nExperience developing and executing test campaigns including test planning, instrumentation selection, and data correlation\nPropulsion component experience spanning valves, filters, regulators, manifolds, and instrumentation interfacing with thruster assemblies\n3D modeling software experience; SolidWorks preferred\nGrit\nPassion for space and the mission\nEntrepreneurial, growth mindset\nPerseverance\nResourceful, adaptable\nSkills\nExecutes priorities with precision and pace\nHigh EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally\nTech-savvy in using systems and tools to move faster and smarter\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills\nCompetencies:\nEmbody our core values of leadership , innovation , and teamwork. In addition, to perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:\nAccountability\nSense of Urgency\nExtreme Ownership\nExecution and Delivery\nEfficiency\nEffectiveness\nWORK ENVIRONMENT:\nGenerally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.\nRequirements\nMust be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation\nManagement has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised\nProof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position\nMust be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones\nPhysical Requirements\nWork may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time)\nMay require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time)\nEquipment and Machines\nStandard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)\nAxiom Space is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom Space does not discriminate on the basis of race, regional color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6754,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":15,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T20:59:25Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":13,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.373,"p_room":0.35,"age_days":29,"expected_fill_days":13,"reasons":["conf:4","velocity","win:tail","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-25T05:49:26Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacenexus-propulsion-sme-engineer-thruster-systems","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacenexus-propulsion-sme-engineer-thruster-systems.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-25T09:10:01Z","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":13106,"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":2086894},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2086894"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fspacenexus-propulsion-sme-engineer-thruster-systems"},{"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%2Fspacenexus-propulsion-sme-engineer-thruster-systems"},{"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%2Fspacenexus-propulsion-sme-engineer-thruster-systems"},{"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/spacenexus-propulsion-sme-engineer-thruster-systems\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fspacenexus-propulsion-sme-engineer-thruster-systems"}]}