Propulsion Engineer, Structures (Mid)

The role

You will design propulsion modules and own mechanical designs for structures, mounting, and hardware installation. You will work with in-house teams to optimize components and support manufacturing from concept through production.

What you will do

• Own mechanical designs for propulsion modules including structures and mounting interfaces
• Design module structures to meet structural and environmental requirements
• Define mechanical, thermal, and structural interfaces
• Partner with in-house component teams to optimize mounting and packaging
• Perform structural analysis using hand calculations and FEA
• Design against mass, cost, and power budgets
• Design for manufacturing and assembly
• Work with manufacturing and production teams during first builds
• Create component and assembly drawings, tolerance stack-ups, and work instructions
• Support build, integration, and test of flight hardware

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering field
• 3+ years of relevant mechanical or aerospace engineering experience
• Experience in structural design and hardware installation/integration
• Strong understanding of structural design and analysis including load paths, strength, stiffness, fasteners, joints, tolerance stack-ups, hand calculations, and FEA
• Experience designing aerospace or complex hardware to structural and environmental requirements
• Experience integrating discrete components into structural assemblies
• Proficiency with CAD, engineering drawings, and GD&T
• Experience taking designs through release, build, and test
• Experience working with manufacturing or production teams
• Ability to make engineering trades across performance, mass, cost, manufacturability, and schedule
• Ability to communicate clearly and work cross-functionally
• Must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) as defined by ITAR

Nice to have

• Direct experience with spacecraft propulsion modules, feed systems, or propulsion component integration
• Experience designing spacecraft or aerospace hardware for serial or high-rate production
• Familiarity with electric propulsion components
• Experience with propellant feed-system routing, fluidic components, and cleanliness/contamination control
• Experience collaborating with component design teams to optimize hardware
• Experience supporting environmental qualification testing
• Experience supporting flight hardware through integration, qualification, launch, and/or on-orbit operations

Benefits

• Equity in Apex
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and dependents
• $100k life insurance at no cost
• 15 to 20+ days vacation annually
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) plan with 100% match on first 3% and 50% on next 2%
• 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, and run club

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 agency

About the company

Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. The company aims to provide humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.