Propulsion Responsible Engineer

The posting

Frontera Space is seeking a Propulsion Responsible Engineer (RE) to serve as the technical owner and primary point of accountability for an in-space hypergolic propulsion system.

The RE will own the propulsion system across its complete lifecycle, including engine architecture, propellant feed and pressurization systems, valves and fluid components, start and shutdown sequencing, thermal management, controls and instrumentation, performance, reliability, testing, qualification, spacecraft integration, and flight operations.

This role is responsible for the end-to-end technical integrity and flight readiness of the propulsion system, from requirements and detailed design through component testing, hot-fire development, qualification, production, spacecraft integration, and post-flight assessment.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on propulsion engineer with strong experience in liquid bipropellant rocket engines, hypergolic propulsion systems, pump-fed systems, and spacecraft propulsion integration, with the judgment and leadership required to take full technical ownership of a flight propulsion system.

This is a full-time, exempt, in-person position reporting to the Project Manager/Chief Engineer in the Austin, Texas area.

What You’ll Do

· Serve as the Responsible Engineer and accountable technical owner for an in-space hypergolic propulsion system, from requirements through flight operations.

· Own propulsion-system architecture, requirements, interfaces, performance, operating margins, reliability, verification, and technical risk.

· Lead the design, development, integration, and qualification of the complete propulsion system, including:

o Hypergolic liquid propulsion hardware

o Propellant feed and management systems

o Pressurization systems

o Valves, regulators, lines, and fluid components

o Engine start, shutdown, and operating sequences

o Controls, instrumentation, and health monitoring

o Thermal and structural interfaces

o Ground support, loading, and servicing interfaces

· Own propulsion technical decisions and lead trade studies balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and mission requirements.

· Define and approve propulsion development, hot-fire, qualification, acceptance, and integrated spacecraft test requirements.

· Review and approve engineering analyses, drawings, test plans, procedures, test data, and technical reports supporting propulsion-system qualification and flight readiness.

· Lead propulsion test readiness and flight readiness assessments, including definition and disposition of system limits, margins, and open technical risks.

· Correlate analytical models with component, engine, and integrated-system test data and drive design changes where required.

· Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions for propulsion-system anomalies and test failures.

· Own propulsion interfaces with spacecraft structures, avionics, GNC, software, thermal systems, electrical systems, ground systems, and mission operations.

· Support spacecraft-level mass properties, trajectory, maneuver performance, thermal, loads, and mission analyses.

· Provide real-time engineering support during hazardous operations, propulsion testing, spacecraft integration, and flight operations.

· Lead post-test and post-flight performance reviews and drive required design or operational improvements.

· Provide technical direction to propulsion engineers and multidisciplinary teams while maintaining clear ownership of propulsion requirements, configuration, and technical decisions.

· Work closely with manufacturing, test, operations, supply chain, quality, and program leadership to deliver a qualified, producible, and flight-ready propulsion system.

· Communicate propulsion status, risks, margins, and major technical decisions to the Chief Engineer and company leadership.

What Success Looks Like

Success will be measured by the RE’s ability to deliver an in-space propulsion system that is:

· Safe, reliable, and flight-ready

· Fully verified against system and mission requirements

· Robust across expected operating environments and credible failure modes

· Manufacturable, testable, and maintainable

· Well characterized through analysis, development testing, and qualification

Supported by clear requirements, configuration control, verification evidence, and technical documentation

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader and accountable system owner who can move effectively between first-principles engineering, detailed design, hardware testing, spacecraft integration, anomaly resolution, and flight-readiness decisions.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

· Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.

· 2+ years of relevant aerospace propulsion or propulsion-system development experience, or equivalent demonstrated expertise.

· Significant experience taking liquid propulsion hardware through design, development, test, qualification, integration, and flight or operational deployment.

· Strong understanding of in-space propulsion system architecture, including engines, propellant feed systems, pressurization systems, valves, regulators, instrumentation, and controls.

· Experience with propulsion testing, hot-fire operations, instrumentation, data analysis, and failure or anomaly investigation.

· Demonstrated experience serving as a Responsible Engineer, technical owner, or equivalent engineering authority for a complex aerospace system or subsystem.

· Strong understanding of systems engineering, requirements management, verification and validation, configuration control, and technical risk management.

· Ability to independently review and approve engineering analyses, test plans, hardware configurations, and technical decisions.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Bonus Points

Preferred

· Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

· Experience developing hypergolic or other storable liquid propulsion systems.

· Experience with pressure-fed propulsion systems, propellant management, and high-pressure gas systems.

· Experience with rocket engine development, hot-fire testing, propulsion test stands, and integrated spacecraft testing.

· Experience with propulsion controls, valve sequencing, instrumentation, or GNC and avionics interfaces.

· Experience with hazardous propellant handling, ground support equipment, loading, and servicing operations.

· Experience with flight qualification, acceptance testing, spacecraft integration, flight operations, or anomaly resolution.

· Familiarity with aerospace standards, system safety, flight safety, and applicable regulatory requirements.

· Experience working in a startup or rapidly scaling aerospace organization.

Technical Skills

· In-space propulsion system architecture

· Liquid rocket engine and thruster development

· Propellant feed and pressurization systems

· Fluid systems, valves, regulators, and instrumentation

· Thermodynamics, heat transfer, and combustion

· Propulsion performance and operating margins

· Propulsion controls and sequencing

· Structural, thermal, electrical, and avionics interfaces

· System safety, reliability, and hazard management

· Requirements development and verification

· Test planning, hot-fire testing, and data analysis

· Failure analysis, anomaly resolution, and root-cause investigation

· Technical risk and configuration management

· Spacecraft-level propulsion integration

Working Conditions

Export Control Eligibility

Certain positions supported by this role may involve work subject to U.S. export-control laws and regulations. Candidates for those roles may be required to meet applicable U.S. export-control eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Frontera Space is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information

Why Join Us?

Join Frontera Space at an early stage and help create a transformational aerospace platform designed to change how high-speed aircraft and access-to-space systems are developed, manufactured, and operated.

You will have the opportunity to influence the vehicle architecture, solve foundational technical challenges, and see your work move rapidly from analysis and design into hardware, testing, and flight. As an early team member, you will take on broad ownership, help establish the engineering culture, and directly shape both the product and the company.

Frontera Space offers meaningful equity participation and the chance to create lasting value while working on technology with the potential to redefine aerospace performance, affordability, and operational capability. This is an opportunity to do more than contribute to an established program—it is a chance to help build the vehicle, the team, and the company from the ground up.

Benefits

- Competitive Pay

- Insurance benefits that become effective the 1st of the month following hire!!

- Tiered medical, dental, and vision insurance offerings for a co-pay plan with low deductibles and low premiums!

- 401K with company match that immediately vests starting after completing 3 months of employment

- Employee Stock Options potential

- PTO