{"id":1245376,"url":"https://alion.io/job/wardstone-propulsion-engineer","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":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":null,"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":160000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":160000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-13T18:11:58Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-24","last_verified_at":"2026-09-29T03:18:42Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":null,"days_open":79,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":79},"description":"Overview\nWardstone is looking for a Propulsion Engineer to own the development of the main engine and divert systems that power our first product, Hailstorm. This includes gas generators, micro-thrusters, solid rocket motors (SRMs), high-pressure systems, fast-acting valves, detonation-assisted dispersal systems, and high-temperature/pressure fluid dynamics.\nYou will design, analyze, prototype, test, and iterate propulsion and dispersal hardware capable of producing extreme accelerations, high mass flow, and low latency response times.\nYou will work side-by-side with the founders, mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers.\nWhat You’ll Do\nHigh-Impulse System & Solid Rocket Motor Design\nDesign and select compact propulsion and impulse systems: solid rocket motors, gas generators, and cold-gas thrusters.\nPerform solid propellant grain design and 3D burnback geometry analysis to tailor thrust curves (progressive, regressive, neutral).\nModel internal ballistics, combustion, mass flow, chamber pressures, and heat transfer.\nSelect appropriate propellant formulations, internal insulation, and ablative nozzle materials to survive extreme thermal environments.\nEvaluate tradeoffs between solid, liquid, or hybrid propulsion architectures for specific interceptor flight regimes.\nHigh-Pressure & High-G Hardware\nDesign motor casings, pressure vessels, regulators, burst disks, check valves, fast-response actuators, and timing mechanisms.\nSimulate structural integrity under high G’s and perform empirical testing.\nIntegrate sensors (pressure, temperature, vibration) for test instrumentation and feedback.\nDispersal & Impulse Transfer Mechanisms\nCo-design the systems responsible for deploying Wardstone’s kinetic interceptor solution.\nModel shock propagation, material acceleration, and high-velocity ejecta characteristics.\nWork closely with the detonation/energetics engineer to integrate igniter development (pyrogen/pyrotechnic), hybrid, or explosive-augmented systems.\nSimulation & Analysis\nUse CFD, CEA, FEA, and custom simulation tools to evaluate propulsion behavior, including nozzle throat erosion and slag accumulation.\nRun data-driven design cycles: test → instrument → analyze → redesign.\nDefine requirements for Δv, rise time, thrust profiles, and thermal durability.\nTesting & Qualification\nPlan and execute high-G tests, pressure tests, thermal tests, and solid motor static fires.\nWork with external test ranges, explosive facilities, instrumentation teams, and ensure strict safety protocols for handling energetic materials (Class 1.1/1.3).\nDevelop test fixtures, data acquisition setups, and high-speed video capture systems.\nIntegration & Full System Ownership\nCollaborate with mechanical engineers on structures that withstand high impulse loads and internal motor pressures.\nCollaborate with electrical engineers on ignition trains (ESDs, EBWs), actuation, and safety interlocks.\nCollaborate with controls engineers on predictor models and impulse sequencing.\nRequired Qualifications\nB.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.\nDemonstrated experience with propulsion design, combustion, energetics, or high-pressure systems.\nHands-on experience with solid rocket motor development from concept through static fire, including grain design, igniters, and nozzle integration.\nHands-on test experience: ignition, valves, tanks, pressure systems, or propulsion rigs.\nDeep understanding of internal flow, combustion, heat transfer, and structural limits.\nExperience designing hardware for missiles, interceptors, rockets, or other aerospace systems.\n US Person or Lawful Permanent Resident status required.\nNice to Haves\nFamiliarity with solid propellant chemistry (e.g., APCP, HTPB, double-base) and casting/curing processes.\nExposure to MIL-STD testing (thermal, vibration, shock, environmental).\nExperience with high-speed DAQ, strain gauges, thermocouples, and high-speed cameras.\nHands-on build experience: machining, pressure plumbing, test fixture design.\nStrong modeling experience: CEA, CFD (OpenFOAM/ANSYS/COMSOL), MATLAB/Python, or equivalent.\nCompensation\nThe base pay range for this role is $100,000 - $160,000 per year.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4194,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"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":["Military","Missiles","Defense Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-25T17:22:42Z"}],"liveness":{"score":9,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":0.9,"p_active":0.363,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":79,"expected_fill_days":36,"reasons":["conf:50","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":160000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/wardstone-propulsion-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/wardstone-propulsion-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01T10:17:30Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1355,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":3645,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"}}}