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Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale for commercial space applications. The company combines software, vertical integration, and hardware design optimized for manufacturing to enable spacecraft platforms that support earth observation, communications, and other critical missions.
You will lead Apex's electric propulsion subsystem end-to-end, owning the technical direction, development, qualification, and production readiness of Hall-effect thrusters, cathodes, flow controllers, and power processing units (PPUs) across all Apex spacecraft platforms. This is a hands-on technical and people leadership role where you'll build and grow a team of propulsion engineers and technical specialists, set the electric propulsion roadmap, drive cross-component architectural trades, and ensure the subsystem meets performance, reliability, schedule, cost, and production requirements.
Key responsibilities include: leading and developing the EP engineering team; owning the EP subsystem roadmap aligned with spacecraft platform and production needs; driving technical trades across thruster, cathode, flow control, and PPU architecture; setting technical standards for design, analysis, test, qualification, and verification; designing for manufacturability and testability at production scale; partnering with systems, avionics, power, thermal, structures, production, supply chain, quality, and program teams; owning EP test and qualification strategy including vacuum facilities and life testing; leading vendor strategy and build-vs-buy decisions; supporting launch campaigns and on-orbit performance evaluation; and communicating technical status, risks, and development plans to leadership.
Apex has raised over $500M in funding and operates a world-class facility in Playa Vista with a collaborative, fast-growing team culture. The company offers equity participation, comprehensive healthcare (100% company-paid medical, dental, vision), 15-20+ days vacation plus 10 paid holidays, 401(k) matching (100% on first 3%, 50% on next 2%), 8 weeks paid parental leave, catered lunch, and a vibrant community with regular team events.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics, or related field
- 10+ years of propulsion engineering experience with significant depth in electric propulsion
- Strong technical experience with electric propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters and interfaces between thrusters, cathodes, flow control, and PPUs
- Demonstrated experience leading engineers and complex technical development (through people management, technical leadership, or both)
- Proven track record developing and delivering flight propulsion hardware through design, qualification, production, and on-orbit operation
- Strong understanding of EP subsystem architecture, requirements, interfaces, verification, and qualification
- Experience balancing technical decisions with schedule, cost, reliability, and production requirements
- Strong cross-functional communication skills
- Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15)
NICE TO HAVE:
- Master's or Ph.D. in electric propulsion, plasma physics, or related field
- Experience building or scaling an electric propulsion team, capability, or test infrastructure
- Experience transitioning propulsion hardware from development into serial or high-rate production
- Experience with EP systems supporting LEO and GEO mission profiles (orbit raising, stationkeeping, deorbit)
- Experience with krypton or other non-xenon electric propulsion propellants
- Experience owning subsystem-level schedule, budget, and technical risk
- Familiarity with range safety requirements (SSCMAN 91-710)
