SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 165,000 - 245,000 / annual
True Anomaly is building autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors to secure the space environment and counter threats. As a Senior Propulsion Engineer specializing in Combustion Devices Design, you will own the full lifecycle of combustion device development—from architecture trades through flight delivery—serving as the team's subject matter expert on injectors, regeneratively cooled thrust chambers, acoustic stability, and high-temperature materials.
You will lead combustion device design, owning the design, analysis, and optimization of combustion chambers, injectors, regen cooling circuits, nozzles, and flow systems for advanced satellite and space vehicle thrusters from concept through flight qualification. You will develop and validate regenerative cooling designs for thrust chambers, supporting thermal and structural analysis to ensure margin and reliability across the full operating envelope. Using CEA and other combustion analysis tools, you will predict performance and guide design decisions, applying knowledge of combustion instability mechanisms to design and validate acoustic cavities and other passive suppression features.
You will champion the use of additive manufacturing processes—including designs in Inconel and other high-temperature superalloys—to accelerate development cycles, reduce part count, and enable geometries not achievable through conventional manufacturing. You will collaborate closely with engine and thruster suppliers to interpret hot-fire and cold-flow test data and translate findings into future design improvements. You will lead robust trade studies to define thruster and engine architecture, select components, and support build campaigns from initial design through integration and test.
Additionally, you will mentor junior engineers and develop best practices, analysis tools, checklists, and design release templates that scale with the team. You will review CAD models and engineering drawings to GD&T standards, providing direct technical feedback and design guidance. You will drive initiatives that enhance design efficiency, manufacturability, and system-level performance.
The role is hybrid with a primary office in Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA. Some work must be done on-site. For exceptionally qualified candidates living outside reasonable commuting distance, remote work within the U.S. may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to business needs and approval; remote employees are expected to travel to a primary office approximately once per month.
**REQUIREMENTS:**
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- 8+ years of professional experience in liquid rocket engine or thruster development
- Hands-on combustion device design: demonstrated experience designing injectors, combustion chambers, regen nozzles, valves, and nozzle extensions
- Regenerative cooling design: practical experience sizing and validating regen cooling circuits for thrust chambers, including thermal margin and pressure drop analysis
- CEA proficiency: demonstrated experience running NASA CEA (or equivalent) to predict propellant performance, O/F sensitivity, and nozzle expansion trade studies
- Combustion instability expertise: familiarity with acoustic combustion instability modes and experience designing acoustic cavities or other suppression features
- High-temperature alloys: experience designing and specifying hardware in Inconel, Haynes, or other high-temperature superalloys for propulsion applications
- Additive manufacturing: experience leveraging AM (SLM, DMLS, or equivalent) in the design and development of propulsion hardware
- CAD proficiency with engineering drawing generation to GD&T standards
- Operational experience in aerospace build, integration, and test environments
- Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- U.S. Citizen, eligible for DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance
**PREFERRED SKILLS:**
- Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (advanced degrees count toward years of experience)
- Experience designing, building, testing, and qualifying thruster or engine components through hot-fire, cold-flow, and leak/checkout campaigns
- Direct team leadership and mentorship of junior propulsion engineers
- Familiarity with the full vehicle lifecycle from concept through production
- Track record of innovative problem-solving in complex mechanical and thermodynamic design challenges
- Experience in a startup or similarly resource-constrained, high-tempo environment
