Senior Propulsion Design Engineer I Verified today

About Agile Space Industries

Agile Space Industries designs, builds, and tests in-space propulsion systems that enable spacecraft to maneuver with precision and reliability. Based in Durango, Colorado, with operations expanding to Tulsa, Oklahoma and Seattle, Washington, the company has achieved over 40% year-over-year growth for the past three years.

The Role

You will lead the design, development, and optimization of propulsion components and sub-systems. This role requires sound working knowledge of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer. You will work with minimal supervision and support hot-fire test data interpretation to recommend design modifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of propulsion components and sub-assemblies (injectors, combustion chambers, valve interfaces) with minimal supervision
• Perform component and subsystem-level trade studies to balance performance, manufacturability, and cost
• Support test planning, execution, and data reduction for component-level test campaigns
• Conduct independent root-cause investigation for design or test anomalies and propose corrective actions
• Develop and review engineering drawings and tolerance stacks; contribute to design review packages (PDR/CDR-level content)
• Support planning for component-level work packages, contributing scope and schedule input
• Provide design and technical guidance to junior engineer teammates
• Develop manufacturing planning for propulsion sub-assemblies, ensuring designs are producible and testable
• Prepare formal presentations and reports for customer communication and gated product development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)
• Use SolidWorks CAD for design of components and assemblies

Requirements

• B.S. or higher degree in related engineering or technical field
• 5+ years of experience in propulsion design engineering
• Working knowledge of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer as applied to propulsion hardware
• Demonstrated experience independently designing components for liquid rocket engines or similar propulsion hardware
• Proficient with SolidWorks CAD and basic analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, hand calculations)
• Ability to work autonomously, prioritize competing tasks, and take initiative in a high-cadence environment
• Ability to work through ambiguity on certain tasks
• Demonstrated ability to mentor or guide junior engineers
• Mindset of developing hardware for a manufacturing production environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with monopropellant engines or regenerative or fuel-film cooling in bipropellant engines
• Experience with rocket engine injector design
• Exposure to additive manufacturing or other advanced manufacturing processes for propulsion hardware
• Experience supporting hot-fire or component-level test campaigns
• Experience working in regulated industries (aerospace, defense)

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: $116,000 to $145,000 annually. Final compensation based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

Benefits include health coverage, dental and vision plans, Flexible Time Off, parental leave, 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%, and eligibility to participate in the stock option plan.

Work Details

Full-time, exempt, onsite in Durango, Colorado. Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates.