Solid Rocket Motor Development Engineer (Defense Startup)

A recently founded defense startup that builds interceptor systems is looking for its first full-time engineer devoted to solid rocket motors, who will take charge of motor work on all of its programs and help form a propulsion team. Flight hardware is already in the air, and the work is fast, hands-on and test-driven.

Scope

• Set the motor architecture, grain geometry and internal-ballistic performance for multiple interceptors, with dual-pulse designs among them
• Partner with manufacturing, mechanical and propellant colleagues as motors and fresh propellant formulations take shape
• Assemble motors and take them to desert ranges for static and flight testing about every other week
• Study test data to refine performance models and revise designs after each firing
• Turn around quick concept studies for new motor sizes tied to prospective customers and contracts

Profile

• Five or more years of hands-on development of solid rocket motors, ideally owning a motor from grain concept through ground test; flight history is a plus
• Knowledge of composite-propellant motor design and fluency with internal-ballistics and thermochemistry codes
• A record of meeting performance targets without exotic chemistry or hard-to-source materials
• Ground-test skills such as instrumentation planning, test cards and post-test data reduction
• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical or chemical engineering, physics or a related field, plus daily use of AI tools
• Comfort in rapid build-and-test cycles and an understanding of missile bodies

Fully on-site in Los Angeles. Work visa sponsorship and transfers are not available.