Staff Electric Propulsion Engineer, Hall-Effect Thrusters

The role

You will serve as the technical authority for Hall-effect thruster development and production. You will own the thruster from plasma physics and design through qualification, flight integration, and design-for-manufacturing.

What you will do

• Own the end-to-end design of Hall-effect thrusters.
• Lead plasma physics and performance modeling.
• Define and execute thruster test and life-qualification campaigns.
• Establish erosion, degradation, and life models.
• Drive cathode-thruster coupling and EP system integration.
• Select and qualify materials and processes for spaceflight and production.
• Optimize thruster designs for performance, mass, cost, and manufacturability.
• Partner with systems, power electronics, thermal, structures, and avionics teams.
• Support build, integration, test, launch campaigns, and anomaly resolution.
• Lead failure analysis, root-cause investigations, and continuous design improvements.

Required qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by ITAR
• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, plasma/propulsion engineering, applied physics, or a related field
• 10+ years of relevant electric propulsion experience with a Bachelor's or Master's degree, OR a Ph.D. in electric propulsion, plasma physics, applied physics, or a closely related field with 3+ years
• Deep, hands-on knowledge of Hall thruster physics and design
• Experience planning and executing Hall thruster or EP test campaigns in vacuum facilities
• Strong understanding of failure and degradation mechanisms that drive Hall thruster life
• Working knowledge of spacecraft propulsion system architecture, propellant feed systems, PPU interaction, and range safety requirements
• Demonstrated technical leadership

Nice to have

• Direct experience taking a Hall thruster from clean-sheet design through flight qualification and on-orbit operation
• Experience with magnetically shielded, wall-less, and/or unshielded Hall thruster architectures
• Experience with alternative propellants, including krypton and other non-xenon EP propellants
• Familiarity with Hall thruster plasma simulation tools, including particle-in-cell and hybrid codes, and magnetic FEA
• Familiarity with PPU/thruster drive electronics and power interface definition
• Design-for-manufacturing experience bringing propulsion hardware into serial or high-rate production
• Experience with EP environmental qualification, including vibration, TVAC, and EMI testing

Benefits

• Equity in Apex
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents
• $100k life insurance at no cost
• 15 to 20+ days vacation annually
• 10 paid holidays
• 100% match on first 3% and 50% match on next 2% of 401(k)
• 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
• Must be able to obtain required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, Department of Commerce, or another applicable agency

About the company

Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. Their spacecraft enable earth observation, communications, and more.