Senior Systems Engineer - Rocket Engine​/Thruster Programs

Company Overview

Agile Space Industries is a rapidly growing supplier of propulsion hardware and engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with expanding operations in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Agile has achieved more than 40% year-over-year growth for the past three years, and our momentum continues to accelerate.

At Agile, we design, build, and test in-space propulsion systems that give spacecraft the ability to maneuver with precision, reliability, and purpose. Our technologies play a critical role in missions that range from lunar landings and resource utilization to national defense, human exploration, and commercial space transport.

We are seeking bold and driven individuals who thrive in a hands-on, fast-moving environment and want to help write the next chapter of space history as part of a close-knit, innovative team.

• Work directly with customers to define mission objectives, CONOPS, and system success criteria
• Translate mission needs into clear, testable system requirements and maintain end-to-end traceability through delivery
• Lead system architecture development and trade studies, including evaluation of performance, risk, cost, and schedule impacts
• Ensure consistency and integration across propulsion, structures, avionics, thermal, fluids, and manufacturing interfaces
• Drive requirement decomposition and flowdown to subsystems and components
• Own and maintain technical baseline and configuration control
• Lead the definition, planning, and execution of the verification and validation approach, including qualification plans and acceptance test procedures (ATP)
• Ensure verification is tied directly to requirements and planned early in the development lifecycle
• Lead and support gated product development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)
• Identify, track, and drive closure of technical risks, interface issues, and system gaps
• Independently analyze system performance and recommend design or architecture changes as needed
• Facilitate communication between customers, internal teams, and suppliers, ensuring clear understanding of system intent, constraints, and decisions
• Support failure investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
• Contribute to improving systems engineering processes, tools, and execution across programs

• B.S. in Engineering or related technical field (or equivalent experience)
• 10+ years of experience driving systems development in aerospace or related technical field
• Experience in systems engineering on rocket engine, thruster, or similar aerospace hardware development programs
• Strong understanding of propulsion systems, fluid systems, and system integration challenges
• Demonstrated experience in requirements definition, decomposition, and management
• Experience leading or supporting verification and validation planning and execution through hardware development life cycles
• Experience supporting or leading gated design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR)
• Ability to drive system-level decision making and cross-functional alignment
• Experience working with customers (government or commercial)
• Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., JAMA or similar)
• U.S. Citizenship or permanent residency (U.S. persons) required

• Experience developing space flight hardware with a comprehensive understanding of space design best practices.
• Experience with test plan development and hot fire testing of rocket engines
• Experienced in leading failure investigations and root cause analysis
• Familiarity with NASA or other relevant industry standards.
• Familiarity with Range Safety requirements, such as AFSPCMAN 91-710, and process of tailoring industry standard specification to a specific application
• Experience with leading teams and working with Government customers.
• Experience with Propulsion Systems Engineering is desired.
• Clear and concise presentation skills.
• Demonstrated experience with risk and opportunity management activities and strategies

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Exempt

Full-Time

The expected salary range for this role is $128,000 – $200,000 annually. Final compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, and internal equity, and is typically made within the midrange, rather than the upper end. The posted salary band reflects the compensation range for candidates located in Colorado, in compliance with Colorado state law. If you are located in another state, please contact HR to inquire about the applicable compensation band, as requirements may vary by jurisdiction.

Must live and work from one of these states:
Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Utah, Texas, or Oklahoma. Preference given toward candidate willing to relocate to Durango, CO.

• Generous health coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Flexible Time Off
• Parental leave
• 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%