SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 210,000 - 250,000 / annual
Gravitics is building infrastructure for a thriving space economy, designing and manufacturing large-scale structures and systems for human and robotic activity in Earth orbit and beyond. As Chief Engineer for Spacecraft, you will own the technical development of a new orbital transfer vehicle from architecture through first flight, serving as the single technical authority across all design, development, and integration efforts.
This is a hands-on leadership role combining strategic technical ownership with direct engineering work. You will lead the product development team, manage external suppliers, conduct mission and spacecraft analyses, and actively participate in integration and testing activities.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the Vehicle: Own the orbital transfer vehicle's system architecture, technical baseline, and requirements from mission needs through component level. Lead system-level trades across propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, guidance/navigation/control, and software, balancing performance, mass, schedule, cost, and risk. Lead all design, development, and integration efforts including major design reviews, vehicle assembly, integration and test, and flight readiness. Serve as the vehicle's technical authority with customers, launch providers, and government partners. Own the technical risk register, schedule, and budget. Lead anomaly investigations to root cause and drive fixes back into design, build, test, and operations.
Deliver the Propulsion System: Architect a high delta-v bi-propellant propulsion system including main engine, reaction control, propellant storage and management, pressurization, and feed systems. Perform and review fluids, thermal, and structural analyses to define and verify system and component behavior, including delta-v and propellant budgets. Own detailed requirements for tanks, valves, manifolds, tubing, and thrusters. Define the qualification and acceptance test strategy from component tests through integrated hotfire and vehicle-level testing. Work with manufacturing to build, integrate, and accept production hardware for flight. Support propellant loading, launch campaign, and on-orbit propulsion operations.
You are a giver who makes things happen. You are exceptional at several disciplines yet willing to tackle areas of weakness. You combine technical depth with leadership capability and a bias toward action.
Requirements:
- Direct experience with in-space bi-propellant chemical propulsion systems, with at least one system taken from design through qualification and flight
- Demonstrated technical leadership of a spacecraft, stage, or major vehicle subsystem across its full lifecycle
- Experience technically managing an external supplier of engines, thrusters, or other complex flight hardware, including specifications, design reviews, and acceptance
- Ability to understand structural, fluid, and thermal designs from first principles
- Working knowledge of spacecraft systems engineering: requirements, interfaces, verification, and risk management
- Familiarity with CAD and FEA packages such as NX and NASTRAN or similar
- 14+ years of industry experience
- Bachelor's degree in an applicable field
Bonus qualifications: Experience on orbital transfer vehicles, kick stages, upper stages, landers, or other high delta-v spacecraft; experience designing test or flight fluid systems for high pressure gases or liquids; hands-on engine or thruster hotfire test experience; familiarity with safety critical systems, pressure vessels, relief devices, igniters/exciters, and propellant loading operations; familiarity with NASA, DoD, and range safety standards for spaceflight propulsion and pressure systems; experience with propulsion/fluid system analysis tools such as ROCETS, GFSSP, CEA, TDK; experience building and leading small, high-performing engineering teams; experience supporting U.S. government customers and ability to obtain a security clearance.
