Propulsion Engineering Manager

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

As our Propulsion Team Lead, you will be responsible for the delivery of our propulsion systems. You will oversee cradle‑to‑grave hardware development from architecture definition through to qualification, and then support production and mission operations. You will also lead and grow a world‑class propulsion engineering team.

• Lead a team of Propulsion Engineers to design, test, and operate propulsion systems, including hiring and managing direct reports.
• Oversee system design, including architecture development, architecture trade studies, make/buy decisions, vendor selection, and supporting analysis.
• Act as the primary interface to other engineering disciplines, production, and mission operations.
• Ensure competitiveness through continuous technical innovation and industry expertise.
• Manage propulsion‑related schedule and risk in partnership with the Program Management team.
• Hire and retain top‑tier talent within the Propulsion Engineering team.

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in a technical discipline (e.g., engineering, physics) or equivalent experience.
• Proven leadership through project management, mentorship, and people management experience.
• 7+ years of industry experience in a design and manufacture‑related role.
• Previous aerospace or similar product design and production experience (full product development cycle).
• Hands‑on experience working with fluid or gas feed systems.
• Working knowledge of in‑space electric and chemical propulsion systems.
• Exceptional time management skills, verbal & written communication skills, and organizational skills.
• Interest in working in a fast‑paced environment and doing hands‑on design/development.
• Not all criteria required – if you don’t meet them all, please apply anyway.

• Experience with geostationary satellite missions.
• Experience with fluid and gas system component design.
• Familiarity with AFSPCMAN 91‑710 and other range safety documentation and requirements.
• Experience writing Python for scientific calculation and data processing.
• Specific experience with low‑thrust monopropellant, green monopropellant, and electric propulsion systems.

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits. Base pay is a single component of Astranis’s total rewards package, which may also include incentive stock options, high‑quality company‑subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance benefits, flexible PTO, 401(k) retirement plan, and free on‑site catered meals.

Base Salary: $150,000—$190,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required. (To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.