Astra
Sr Electric Propulsion Engineer
Alameda, CA · Senior · Contract
Sponsorship not specified$140k-$180kDetected 16 days ago
MATLABCybersecurityANSYSMechanical DesignAerospace EngineeringCOMSOLSimulinkCommunicationProblem Solving
About the role
- You will work independently with general direction, assess and resolve a wide range of technical challenges using sound judgment and creative problem-solving, and provide guidance to more junior team members.
- Performance Analysis: Conduct system-level trade studies balancing thrust, efficiency, specific impulse, mass, power consumption, and lifetime, with a primary focus on LEO constellation missions and emerging higher-power GEO applications.
Responsibilities
- Take responsibility for significant elements of Hall-effect thruster design, including discharge chamber geometry, magnetic circuit layout, cathode integration, and thermal management.
- Assess unusual design challenges and apply sophisticated analytical techniques to identify root causes and develop solutions.
- Develop, apply, and maintain analytical and numerical models (plasma, thermal, structural, and electromagnetic) to predict thruster performance, adapting existing modeling approaches and suggesting variations to resolve issues.
- Collaborate with spacecraft systems engineers to define interfaces, verify requirements, and support the integration of propulsion subsystems into the vehicle.
- Demonstrate creative thinking by evaluating advanced concepts (e.g., magnetic shielding, alternative propellants, improved channel materials) and creating and implementing effective design improvements to enhance performance, lifetime, and manufacturability.
- Provide guidance to junior engineers on the team, contribute to peer reviews of designs, and prepare technical reports, test plans, and design documentation for internal and external reviews.
- System Integration: Collaborate with spacecraft systems engineers to define interfaces, verify requirements, and support the integration of propulsion subsystems into the vehicle.
- Guidance & Review: Provide guidance to junior engineers on the team, contribute to peer reviews of designs, and prepare technical reports, test plans, and design documentation for internal and external reviews.
- Mission Support: Support customer and mission-level reviews by preparing propulsion performance data and trade study inputs for LEO constellation and GEO spacecraft programs.
Requirements
- All jobs restricted by these regulations will be contingent upon the applicant's status as a documented U.S. Person or their ability to receive a trade license from the cognizant government agency
- in addition to any required company background checks and in compliance with applicable U.S. and California laws.
- Today, Astra offers one of the lowest cost-per-launch dedicated orbital launch services, and one of the industry's leading flight-proven electric propulsion systems for satellites, the Astra Spacecraft Engine.
- This is a journey-level position requiring complete knowledge of electric propulsion principles and practices.
Compensation
- $140k-$180k
Benefits
- $140,000-180,000 We're competitive in compensation and offer equity as part of the package.
- We have great benefits that include health, vision, dental, and 401K in comparison to other startups.
Company info
- We are seeking a Senior Electric Propulsion Engineer to take ownership of significant areas of Hall-effect thruster design, analysis, and test for spacecraft propulsion.
Equal opportunity
- Please contact us to request accommodation.
Visa & Work Authorization
- All jobs restricted by these regulations will be contingent upon the applicant's status as a documented U.S. Person or their ability to receive a trade license from the cognizant government agency; in addition to any req
This listing is sourced directly from Astra's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.