About the Role
The Senior Propulsion Engineer is responsible for driving the development, design, manufacturing, and testing of rocket propulsion subsystems. In this role you will sit at the intersection of technical leadership and project management — mentoring junior engineers, guiding system engineering decisions, and delivering complex propulsion programmes from concept through qualification.
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Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop and test rocket propulsion systems, applying thermodynamic, fluid dynamic and structural principles across the full engineering cycle from concept through performance validation.
- Lead propulsion projects at system engineering level, managing technical interfaces, design reviews and verification activities to ensure milestones are delivered on time and within budget.
- Define system requirements and maintain technical baseline documentation, ensuring configuration control throughout the programme lifecycle.
- Mentor and coach entry-level engineers, reviewing technical outputs and supporting knowledge transfer to build internal propulsion capability.
- Support additive manufacturing, laser welding, milling and heat treatment activities, collaborating with manufacturing teams to resolve non-conformances and ensure components meet specifications.
- Advise on PLM software implementation, driving process standardisation and ensuring data integrity across design, manufacturing and testing phases.
- Prepare and review technical data packages including drawings, specifications, test reports and interface control documents to customer and regulatory standards.
- Liaise between technical teams and project management, translating engineering challenges into clear stakeholder communications and flagging risks across disciplines.
Requirements
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or an equivalent technical qualification
Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of experience in rocket propulsion development
- Experience developing and producing Solid Rocket Motor Data packs
- Experience developing solid propellant rocket motors for missile applications
Competencies
- Planning and organising
- Problem solving
- Communicating and influencing
- Analytical thinking
- Broad knowledge of mechanical engineering as it relates to propulsion system development and manufacturing
- Thorough understanding of propulsion product development and production
- Technical communication (written and oral) with technical and non-technical personnel, suppliers and customers
- Thorough understanding of systems engineering processes
