| Location | Dayton, OH |
Start Date: Immediate
JHNA, CTSi, and EXPANSIA have come together to form a Defense Technology platform named Aether Aerospace focused on delivering high-impact technologies, technology-enabled services and advanced manufacturing solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and related national security customers. Backed by Falfurrias Management Partners, the platform brings together deep domain expertise across Army, Navy, and Air Force and Space Force programs, digital engineering, systems integration, and specialized manufacturing capabilities.
The combined organization operates as a multi-entity aerospace and defense technology and tech-enabled services and manufacturing enterprise positioned for scalable growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.
OVERVIEW
Full-time/Permanent Employee
Location: Dayton, OH (Travel: Up to 30% within continental United States)
Our client is seeking a Senior Propulsion Engineer to support the NOVASTAR program. This position will support a broad range of work involving the guidance, navigation, propulsion, control, software, modeling, and simulation of rocket-propelled aerospace vehicles.
The selected candidate will be responsible for addressing customer inquiries related to propulsion systems, including liquid rocket engines and solid rocket motors. Additionally, the candidate will be expected to formally respond to these inquiries through technical reports based on professional experience, background research, professional propulsion databases, rudimentary design analyses, and other technical resources.
The candidate must be able to work autonomously with minimal guidance. On occasion, the candidate will also be expected to contribute to collaborative technical reporting for our customers.
Clearance: Active TS/SCI Clearance
Education and Years of Experience: Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university and 5+ years of demonstrable experience in the design, testing, or evaluation of propulsion systems or fluid mechanical systems.
Thermodynamics, with an emphasis on thermal and chemical equilibrium
Stoichiometry
Quasi-one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) compressible flow
Basic rocket nozzle design theory
Structural mechanics
Classical mechanic
Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university, with an emphasis on chemical rocket propulsion.
Recent TS/SCI eligibility.
Eight (8) or more years of professional experience in the design, testing, or evaluation of propulsion systems, with an emphasis on liquid rocket engines or solid rocket motors.
Professional experience utilizing propulsion databases maintained by JANNAF.
Proven capability using engineering software to analyze the performance of chemical propellants (e.g., NASA's Chemical Equilibrium with Applications (CEA)).
Professional experience applying the following propulsion and fluid mechanics topics:
Fluid measurement instrumentation (e.g., pressure transducers, flow meters, thermocouples)
Performance analysis of chemical propellants
For solid rocket motors: igniter design, propellant grain design, and structural analysis of propellant grains and rocket cases
For liquid rocket engines: interpretation of propulsion system flow diagrams, injector design, feed systems, coolant systems, and identification and management of pressure losses
Professional experience collaborating with other engineers to assess total vehicle performance with respect to each subsystem.