Rocket & Test Stand Lead Engineer

Astrobotic Technology, Inc. is a space robotics company that seeks to make space accessible to the world.  The company’s suite of lunar landers delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits, and individuals.  The company is also developing advanced space robotics capabilities such as terrain relative navigation, mobile robotics for lunar surface operations, and reliable computing systems for mission-critical applications.  Originally spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, Astrobotic is pioneering affordable planetary access that promises to spark a new era of exploration, science, tourism, resource utilization, and mining.  Astrobotic’s headquarters is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a second location in Mojave, California.

Astrobotic is enabling sustainable access and utilization of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Through its recent acquisition of Masten Space Systems, we’ve been building and flying reusable rockets for nearly two decades with the most successful rocket-powered landings in the industry. We work directly with NASA, defense, and commercial customers to develop the tech it takes to break down the barriers to space. Together, we’ll make wild napkin ideas possible by taking them from the lab, to the test site, all the way to the lunar surface and beyond. 

This position will be the technical manager for Astrobotic’s active VTVL flight vehicle – Xodiac - and one or more of its engine test stands (5K-25K lbf). Applicants should have a background in propulsion and flight test, with good technical understanding of launch vehicle subsystems and operations. Experience with cryo propulsions systems highly preferred. This role will be responsible for or ensuring safe operations of relevant test assets, and contributing to modifications or evolutions of key test assets, potentially including development of additional VTVL vehicles.

Include with the application a copy of your resume and a portfolio at the end if you have one. All of these documents should be combined into one pdf document of less than 10MB and have a filename in the format of Lastname_Firstname.pdf. Only applications in this format will be reviewed. Your portfolio should show projects you have worked on in a hands-on capacity. School projects, prior work projects, or even home projects are acceptable. Include pictures and descriptions of what your part in the project was if it was a team project.

Job Responsibilities: 

• Maintain flight / test worthiness of Xodiac flight vehicle and 25K lbf engine test stand (cryo); contribute to effective management of other propulsion test stands
• Ensure safe operations for both ground and flight testing
• Support budget and staff planning and management for test operations
• Manage maintenance and overhaul planning and execution, including coordinating staffing, budget, and schedule needs with other teams
• Contribute engineering and management expertise in the area of design, development, and test of launch vehicles and propulsion systems
• Contribute to test campaign planning for VTVL and engine testing
• Contribute to design, development, test, and operations for additional small VTVL vehicles
• Provide technical guidance to fabricators and technicians 
• Effective people and process management, particularly an ability to understand and read team member well-being in a high-pressure test environment
• Serving as Launch Conductor or test support for flight test (including Xodiac and potentially Xogdor (in development)
• Earn and maintain trust from the flight operations and test teams
• Manage payload or engine integration
• Work with program management to ensure team has technical understanding of test assets, operations and safety training, etc.
• Developing and running component testing 
• Providing mentorship and guidance to less experienced technical and operations team members
• Engage with program management and business development teams to support customer outreach
• Serve as a technical interface with flight / engine test customers
• Work with systems engineers to develop vehicle and test stand requirements and maintain appropriate documentation
• Support project management by providing task lists and task dependencies, estimating labor and material cost requirements

Required Skills & Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, or engineering physics 
• 10 years of professional experience working with rocket and propulsion development, test, and flight operations
• 5  years of experience in engine test
• Experience as technical lead for launch vehicle, rocket subsystem, and / or experimental aircraft
• Willingness to take on responsibility for team and vehicle safety in high-risk, hazardous launch operations
• Experience using CAD to design parts/assemblies (Solidworks preferrable)
• Experience developing hardware from concept to working prototypes 
• Experience safely testing with and handling hazardous materials (cryogens, hypergols, high pressure gas)
• Hands-on project experience with fluid and mechanical systems, preferably as a team or sub-team lead 
• Awareness of regulatory safety requirements (e.g., OSHA, FAA)
• Hands-on fabrication skills
• Development of subsystem requirements from system requirements
• Openness to learning and mentoring on Astrobotic design and test philosophies from existing team

Desired Skills & Qualifications:  

• 8 years of professional experience in propulsion design or testing
• 5 years of professional experience managing flight / launch test operations
• Experience with design and/or test of hypergolic propellant propulsion systems 
• Familiarity with explosive hazard calculations
• Ansys FLUENT CFD
• NASA propulsion and fluid system design and analysis software (GFSSP, NPSS, ROCETS, etc.)
• Experience with design of the ground support equipment (GSE) and tooling for engine manufacturing, testing, and maintenance

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International

Salary Range: $140,000 - $200,000

The base salary range represents the low and high end of the anticipated salary range for this position. The actual base salary offered for this position will depend on numerous factors including individual performance, business objectives, and the candidates professional experience.  Base salary is just one component of Astrobotic’s competitive total rewards strategy.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Astrobotic Technology, Inc. does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to contact@astrobotic.com.

Salary : $140,000 - $200,000