Lead Electric Propulsion Engineer

The role

You will build and lead the team responsible for the electric propulsion subsystem end to end. This includes Hall-effect thrusters, cathodes, flow controllers, and power processing units. You will own the technical direction, development, qualification, and production readiness of the subsystem.

What you will do

• Lead, grow, and develop Apex’s electric propulsion team.
• Own the EP subsystem roadmap across Hall-effect thrusters, cathodes, flow controllers, and PPUs.
• Own EP subsystem performance, reliability, schedule, cost, and delivery of flight hardware at rate.
• Drive cross-component technical trades across thruster, cathode, flow control, and PPU architecture.
• Set technical standards for EP design, analysis, test, qualification, requirements, ICDs, and verification.
• Drive design for manufacturability and testability.
• Partner with systems, avionics, power, thermal, structures, production, supply chain, quality, and program teams.
• Own EP test and qualification strategy.
• Lead vendor strategy and build-vs-buy decisions.
• Support launch campaigns, on-orbit performance evaluation, anomaly resolution, and root-cause investigations.

Required qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15)
• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics, or a 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 the interfaces between thrusters, cathodes, flow control, and PPUs.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineers and complex technical development.
• 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.

Nice to have

• Master’s or Ph.D. focused on electric propulsion, plasma physics, or a 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 both LEO and GEO mission profiles, including orbit raising, station keeping, and deorbit.
• Experience with krypton or other non-xenon electric propulsion propellants.
• Experience owning subsystem-level schedule, budget, and technical risk.
• Familiarity with applicable range safety requirements, including SSCMAN 91-710.

Benefits

• Equity in Apex
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents
• $100k life insurance at no cost
• Starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually
• 10 paid holidays
• 100% match on first 3% and 50% on next 2% 401(k) matching
• 8 weeks paid parental leave
• Childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks
• Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings
• Dream desk setup

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by ITAR
• Applicants must qualify as a U.S. Person or be able to obtain required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, Department of Commerce, or another agency

About the company

Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. The company is a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding.