Lead Propulsion Engineer
(Methalox Focus)
Overview
We’re looking for a Head / Lead Propulsion Engineer to own the design, development, and
delivery of a liquid rocket propulsion system from early-stage build through to launch. This
role combines deep technical ownership with team leadership, operating at system level
across the full engine.
Key Responsibilities
• Own propulsion system architecture and development strategy
• Lead design across injector, combustion chamber, and feed systems
• Make system-level trade-offs across performance, reliability, and manufacturability
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary propulsion team
• Drive testing strategy from component through to full engine hot fire
• Diagnose failures and iterate designs quickly
• Interface with structures, avionics, and manufacturing teams
Required Experience
• ~10+ years in liquid rocket propulsion
• Strong hands-on experience with engine hardware and testing
• Proven ability to operate across full propulsion system, not just one component
• Prior experience leading teams or coordinating multi-disciplinary efforts
• Strong grounding in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and combustion
Technical Requirements
• Strong experience with injector design / development (critical)
• Solid understanding of combustion chamber behaviour
• Working knowledge of turbopumps / feed systems
• Experience with cryogenic propellants (methane, hydrogen, LOX)
What Doesn’t Work
• Pure analysis / simulation backgrounds
• Narrow specialists with no system-level understanding
• Startup “titles without depth” profiles
Job City: Toronto
Propulsion Analyst
Propulsion Analyst, Launch Vehicle Development
We are supporting a fast-moving launch company developing next-generation rocket vehicles from concept through flight. The team is building at an early-stage, 0-to-1 phase, so this role suits someone who enjoys ambiguity, ownership, and working closely with propulsion, vehicle, test, and systems teams.
The role:
You will support propulsion system analysis across liquid rocket engine and/or vehicle-level propulsion architecture, helping drive design decisions through modelling, simulation, trade studies, and performance evaluation.
Responsibilities:
- Perform propulsion system analysis for launch vehicle and rocket engine development
- Build and maintain models for engine performance, fluid systems, thermodynamics, and vehicle-level propulsion behaviour
- Support trade studies across engine cycle, propellant selection, feed systems, pressurisation, cooling, and performance margins
- Analyse test data from component, subsystem, and integrated propulsion testing
- Work closely with propulsion design, test, GNC, structures, and systems engineering teams
- Support requirements definition, verification planning, and design reviews
- Identify performance risks, sensitivities, and opportunities for optimisation
- Contribute to early architecture decisions in a 0-to-1 launch vehicle environment
Ideal background:
- Experience in propulsion analysis, rocket engine performance, fluid systems, or launch vehicle modelling
- Strong understanding of thermodynamics, compressible flow, fluid dynamics, combustion, and propulsion fundamentals
- Experience with tools such as Python, MATLAB, Simulink, CEA, REFPROP, EcosimPro, Modelica, NPSS, or similar
- Exposure to liquid propulsion systems, pressurised systems, turbomachinery, feed systems, tanks, valves, or thermal management
- Comfortable working from first principles where processes and tools may still be immature
- Experience analysing hot-fire, component, or integrated system test data is highly valuable
- Aerospace, mechanical, propulsion, or related engineering degree preferred
Nice to have:
- Launch vehicle or rocket engine development experience
- Early-stage startup or rapid development environment experience
- Experience with LOX/methane, LOX/RP-1, hydrogen, or storable propulsion systems
- Familiarity with system safety, verification, requirements, and design review processes
- Understanding of vehicle performance, trajectory impacts, and mass/performance trades
Working style:
This is a hands-on analytical role in a highly iterative engineering environment. The right person will be technically strong, pragmatic, and comfortable influencing design decisions with imperfect data.
Turbomachinery Engineer
Turbomachinery Designer
A fast-moving launch vehicle company is developing a medium-lift orbital rocket and is looking for a Turbomachinery CAD/GD&T/Stack-up Designer to support the development of a high-thrust liquid rocket engine.
This role owns the translation of preliminary mechanical designs into release-ready hardware definition, including 3D models, 2D drawings, GD&T schemes, tolerance stack-ups, and production documentation for pumps, turbines, housings, impellers, shafts, seals, bearings, manifolds, volutes, and related rotating assemblies.
You will work across design, analysis, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and internal build teams to make sure hardware is manufacturable, inspectable, and configuration-controlled.
Responsibilities
Own detailed 3D CAD models and assemblies for turbopump and rotating hardware.
Create production-ready 2D drawings covering datums, GD&T, surface finish, heat treatment, coatings, inspection requirements, and manufacturing notes.
Run tolerance stack-ups and define fits, clearances, and interface controls for cryogenic, hot-side, and transient operating environments.
Challenge design intent where needed, identifying costly or risky features and proposing manufacturable alternatives.
Support CNC, additive, EDM, grinding, balancing, brazing, welding, and related manufacturing processes.
Drive parts through PLM release, including part numbering, revisions, EBOM structure, and ECO documentation.
Work with suppliers and internal teams on RFIs, first-article inspection, CMM plans, metrology strategy, and nonconformance reviews.
Own drafting standards, templates, checking routines, title blocks, and drawing review practices.
Act as a GD&T focal point during design reviews.
Required Experience
Technical degree in mechanical design, product design, industrial drafting, or equivalent practical experience.
9+ years releasing detailed drawings for precision mechanical hardware in aerospace, turbomachinery, motorsport, energy, or another regulated/high-performance industry.
Hands-on experience with turbopump hardware through manufacturing and testing, including cold-flow, spin, or hot-fire campaigns.
Advanced CAD capability, ideally Siemens NX.
Strong ISO GPS / GD&T knowledge and datum strategy experience.
Proven ability to run tolerance stack-ups and define fits, clearances, runout, concentricity, and inspection criteria.
Ability to interpret FEA, rotordynamics, and manufacturing tolerance studies into drawing requirements.
Practical understanding of CNC turning/milling, additive manufacturing, EDM, grinding, and DfM/DfA trade-offs.
Experience with PLM/PDM systems, preferably Teamcenter.
Comfort operating in a high-ownership environment where process is still being built.
Preferred Experience
Formal GD&T, ISO GPS, metrology, or drafting certification.
Experience detailing rotating equipment or high-precision mechanical hardware.
Direct exposure to CMM, first-article inspection, GD&T verification, and nonconformance review.
Knowledge of bearing and seal fits, balance-driven requirements, surface finishes, coatings, heat treatments, cryogenic hardware, or hot-section turbomachinery.
Experience with aerospace configuration control and traceability for flight or test hardware.
Experience producing assembly drawings, exploded views, and shop-floor integration or test instructions.