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Senior Propulsion Engineer - Solid Rocket Motors

Wardstone· Engineering
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El Segundo, CA$140k - $170kFull-timePosted 6d ago

About the role

You will own the solid rocket motor for Wardstone's interceptor platforms, overseeing motor design, qualification, and integration with the vehicle. Report to the CTO and work closely with founders and cross-disciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

  • Own motor requirements and design: translate trajectory needs into motor requirements (total impulse, thrust profile, burn time, mass); lead architecture and design of grain, case, insulation, liner, nozzle, igniter; design propellant grains and run burnback analyses; model internal ballistics, chamber pressure, heat transfer, and nozzle erosion.
  • Select materials and suppliers: choose propellant formulations, insulation, nozzle materials; decide between in-house production vs. procurement; manage motor suppliers; design motor case with mechanical team.
  • Test and qualify: plan and execute static fires, pressure tests, and temperature-conditioned tests; coordinate with external test ranges and facilities; develop safety procedures for energetic materials; design test fixtures and instrumentation; analyze test data and drive design improvements; lead motor qualification for storage, transport, and flight environments.
  • Integrate with the vehicle: collaborate with avionics on ignition train interfaces and safety interlocks; work with GNC on thrust profiles and 6DOF performance models; support plume effects and base drag; assist with flight tests and post-flight performance analysis.

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering (M.S. preferred).
  • 5+ years of solid rocket motor development experience.
  • Experience taking at least one solid rocket motor from concept through static fire (grain design, nozzle, igniter integration).
  • Strong grasp of internal ballistics, combustion, heat transfer, and pressure vessel design.
  • Hands-on test experience, including static fires, instrumentation, and data analysis.
  • Working knowledge of safe handling and storage of energetic materials.
  • Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual); eligible to obtain U.S. security clearance.

Skills

Required:Solid rocket motor designInternal ballisticsPropellant selection and materialsTesting and instrumentation
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Wardstone

Satellites for Missile Defense

Wardstone is a space defense-tech company developing next-generation capabilities to protect the United States and its allies from missiles and other space-based threats. We design, build, and deploy satellites equipped with space-based interceptors to kinetically counter hypersonic and ballistic missiles.

space-explorationsatellitesrocketryaerospace
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