{"id":2826796,"url":"https://alion.io/job/wardstone-propulsion-engineer-2","title":"Propulsion Engineer","company":{"id":3806068,"name":"Wardstone","domain":"wardstone.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/wardstone-2","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Gem","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":5,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-19T05:45:15Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["El Segundo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":100000,"max":130000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":130000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-18T20:50:13Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-18","last_verified_at":"2026-10-19T14:29:06Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":0,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":0},"description":"Overview\nYou will help design, build, and test the solid rocket motor for our two interceptor platforms. You’ll own motor components and test campaigns, from design through static fire. You’ll report to the Senior Propulsion Engineer, who will review your work and help you grow.\nYou’ll also work alongside the mechanical, avionics, GNC, and aerodynamics engineers. At our size, you’ll get more hands-on time with real motors than you would almost anywhere else.\nWhat You’ll Do\nDesign motor components\nDesign motor components, such as nozzles, igniters, closures, insulation, and case hardware, with guidance from the Senior Propulsion Engineer.\nBuild CAD models and make clear drawings for fabrication.\nRun internal ballistics, thermal, and structural analyses to support design decisions.\nBuild and test\nPrepare for and run static fires, pressure tests, and temperature-conditioned tests.\nDesign and build test fixtures, plumbing, and instrumentation, including pressure transducers, load cells, thermocouples, and high-speed cameras.\nSet up data acquisition systems, reduce test data, and compare the results against predictions.\nWork with vendors and machine shops to get parts made, and inspect them when they arrive.\nWork safely with energetics\nFollow and help improve safety procedures for handling, storing, and testing energetic materials.\nWork with external test ranges and energetics facilities during test campaigns.\nCollaborate\nSupport motor integration with the mechanical and avionics teams.\nPresent your work in design reviews and take feedback well.\nSupport flight tests, including data collection and post-flight analysis.\nRequired Qualifications\nB.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering, or a related field.\n2+ years of experience with propulsion hardware or high-pressure systems. Student rocketry or similar project teams count.\nWorking knowledge of rocket propulsion, including internal ballistics, combustion, and heat transfer.\nSolid CAD skills, including parts, assemblies, and drawings.\nHands-on test experience, such as instrumentation, data acquisition, or test operations.\nProficiency in Python or MATLAB for analysis.\nMust be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual). [Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.]\nNice to Have\nExperience with solid rocket motor design, manufacturing, or static fires.\nHigh-power rocketry certification (NAR or Tripoli).\nFamiliarity with solid propellant chemistry or casting processes.\nExperience with high-speed DAQ, strain gauges, and high-speed cameras.\nHands-on build experience, including machining, plumbing, and test fixture design.\nExperience with propulsion analysis tools (e.g., CEA, internal ballistics codes, or CFD).\nCompensation\nThe base pay range for this role is $100,000 - $130,000 per year.","description_format":"text","description_chars":2855,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"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":["Air Defense","Defense AI"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-18T23:15:13Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":28,"reasons":["conf:3","win:early","comp:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-10-19T05:45:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":130000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/wardstone-propulsion-engineer-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/wardstone-propulsion-engineer-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-19T16:55:28Z","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":12815,"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":3806068},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3806068"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fwardstone-propulsion-engineer-2"},{"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%2Fwardstone-propulsion-engineer-2"},{"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%2Fwardstone-propulsion-engineer-2"},{"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/wardstone-propulsion-engineer-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fwardstone-propulsion-engineer-2"}]}