{"id":3652123,"url":"https://alion.io/job/the-aerospace-corporation-propulsion-systems-engineer","title":"Propulsion Systems Engineer","company":{"id":58420,"name":"The Aerospace Corporation","domain":"aerospace.org","url":"https://alion.io/company/the-aerospace-corporation","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":84,"open_postings":65,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.631,"repost_share":0.031,"time_to_fill_p50_days":33,"computed_at":"2026-11-06T05:58:05Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Los Angeles, United States","United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":131400,"max":197000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":197000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":6,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-02T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-02","last_verified_at":"2026-11-06T00:48:45Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":4,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":4},"description":"The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.\nThe Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures, policy and strategy, technology development, warfighter capability enablers, systems integration, defense industrial base, and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers, including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Air Force Material Command, and senior leadership at the Pentagon, but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise, maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers’ portfolios as well as horizontal, matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally, DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception, design, acquisition, launch and operations of satellite, launch vehicle, ground control, and range systems.\nThe Launch Systems, Operations, and Development team within the Launch Systems Division is seeking a well-qualified individual with demonstrated leadership and exceptional communication abilities. As a Propulsion Systems Engineer you will manage and provide leadership for a team of Program Office (PO) and Engineering & Technology Group (ETG) engineers to evaluate, certify, and provide mission assurance for propulsion systems used on the SpaceX’s Falcon launch system and/or Blue Origin’s New Glenn Launch system for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions for the United States Space Force. You will be responsible for ensuring ETG consistently provides technically sound and objective assessments along with recommendations to Aerospace and Space Force leadership within appropriate timelines and budget allocations for the purposes of launch vehicle certification and operational mission assurance. You will also be responsible for providing direction, mentoring, and developing the technical and functional capabilities of the PO and ETG teams while also building effective working relationships with the Space Force team, contractor counterparts (e.g. SpaceX, Blue Origin and their suppliers), and other interested parties (e.g. NRO and NASA).\nThe Propulsion Systems Engineer focuses on overall mission execution across the Falcon and/or New Glenn propulsion systems interfacing with Propulsion Engineering, Mechanical Systems, Stage Systems, Thermostructures, and Fluid Mechanics in the engineering matrix group that supports the program office. In addition, this position involves programmatic and technical leadership of the program office team, individual project engineers focused on Engines and Stage Propulsion Systems, to execute on NSSL missions on budget and on plan.\nThe selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our offices at Los Angeles Air Force Base or Cape Canaveral, FL.\nWhat You’ll Be Doing\nLead activities related to analysis, design, development, evaluation, testing, certification, pedigree, mission assurance, fleet monitoring, and launch mission control of large launch vehicle motors, engines, and stage propulsion systems \nManage Aerospace Engineering & Technology Group (ETG) technical studies that assure the integrity, reliability, performance, and compliance of large engines and propulsion systems \nCollaborate with other program office staff responsible for other aspects of launch systems (such as structures, GNC, avionics, systems, etc) \nSupport management and systems engineering activities as needed \nPrepare reports, briefings, updates, and documents as needed in support of program activities and Aerospace processes \nBuild and maintain close working relationship with the Space Force and Aerospace program offices, Contractors, and representatives from other government agencies \nProvide technical advice/recommendations and inform Customer/Aerospace management of technical activities, issues and accomplishments through reports and briefings to senior level management \nAssist the contractor in certifying and launching vehicles \nEstablish mutually beneficial solutions between the contractors and the USG team \nWhat You Need to be Successful\nMinimum Requirements for Sr. Member of Technical Staff - Propulsion Engineering:\nB.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related technical field \n3 or more years of related engineering experience \nPast work in propulsion to include one or more of the following: engine/systems design, propulsion analysis/evaluation, engine testing, propulsion systems engineering, stage propulsion, engine manufacturing, engine certification, mission assurance, or mission support \nExperience contributing to multi-disciplinary technical team efforts \nMust be physically able to enter manufacturing facility, travel to test sites, and travel to launch site to support missions, and travel between campuses \nA current DOD Secret Clearance or the ability to obtain/maintain a Secret Clearance, which is issued by the U.S. Government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance \nIn addition to the above, the minimum requirements for Project Engineer - Propulsion Engineering include:\n6 or more years of related engineering experience \nPast work in propulsion to include three or more of the following: engine/systems design, propulsion analysis/evaluation, engine testing, propulsion systems engineering, stage propulsion, engine manufacturing, engine certification, mission assurance, or mission support \nExperience leading multi-disciplinary technical team efforts \nHow You Can Stand Out\nIt would be impressive if you have one or more of these:\nM.S. and/or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with emphasis in combustion or propulsion from a recognized institution and/or MBA \nExperience leading component level pedigrees, developing and delivering presentations to peers and all levels of management \nConsulting or advising external groups \nKnowledge the Launch Verification Matrix, Chief Engineer Review Board, and/or Risk management matrix \nWe offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.\n(Min - Max)\n$131,400.00 - $197,000.00Pay Basis: AnnualLeadership Competencies\nOur leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:\nOperate Strategically\nLead Change \nEngage with Impact \nFoster Innovation \nDeliver Results \nWays We Reward Our Employees\nDuring your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.\nBenefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:\nComprehensive health care and wellness plans\n\nPaid holidays, sick time, and vacation\n\nStandard and alternate work schedules, including telework options\n\n401(k) Plan - Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire\n\nFlexible spending accounts\n\nVariable pay program for exceptional contributions\n\nRelocation assistance\n\nProfessional growth and development programs to help advance your career\n\nEducation assistance programs\n\nAn inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect\n\nWe are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other-the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.\nEqual Opportunity Commitment\nThe Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunityemployer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information,marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at  . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.","description_format":"text","description_chars":9543,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":6,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Education assistance","Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["National Security","Launch Services","Research Institutes"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-03T00:26:56Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":4,"expected_fill_days":33,"reasons":["conf:5","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-06T05:58:05Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":197000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/the-aerospace-corporation-propulsion-systems-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/the-aerospace-corporation-propulsion-systems-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-06T06:09:43Z","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":10783,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-07T00:00:00Z"}},"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":58420},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=58420"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fthe-aerospace-corporation-propulsion-systems-engineer"},{"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%2Fthe-aerospace-corporation-propulsion-systems-engineer"},{"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%2Fthe-aerospace-corporation-propulsion-systems-engineer"},{"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/the-aerospace-corporation-propulsion-systems-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fthe-aerospace-corporation-propulsion-systems-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3652123}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"aerospace.org","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3652123},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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