{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"79c1e6bf306812721a7dab06","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/79c1e6bf306812721a7dab06","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/79c1e6bf306812721a7dab06","title":"Senior Systems Engineer - Rocket Engine / Thruster Programs","description":"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.\r\nAt 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.\r\nWe 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.\r\nAgile is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to provide end-to-end systems engineering leadership across rocket engine and thruster development programs. This role is responsible for driving a clear, executable thread from customer mission and CONOPS through system requirements, architecture, design, verification, qualification, and delivery.\r\nThe ideal candidate brings strong system-level thinking and deep technical experience in propulsion or related aerospace hardware. This role works directly with the customer and internal teams to define the mission, translate it into requirements, and ensure the system is designed, built, and tested to meet those objectives. This position is accountable for maintaining technical coherence across disciplines and driving system-level decisions throughout the program lifecycle. The role requires leadership in requirements definition and flowdown, architecture development, trade studies, risk management, and verification and validation planning and execution. The candidate is responsible for working with the customer to drive agreement on requirements.\r\nAgile operates in a fast-paced development environment. This role is expected to take ownership, drive decisions, and ensure alignment across teams, customers, and suppliers to deliver a working, testable system.\r\nResponsibilities\r\nWork directly with customers to define mission objectives, CONOPS, and system success criteria\r\nTranslate mission needs into clear, testable system requirements and maintain end-to-end traceability through delivery\r\nLead system architecture development and trade studies, including evaluation of performance, risk, cost, and schedule impacts\r\nEnsure consistency and integration across propulsion, structures, avionics, thermal, fluids, and manufacturing interfaces\r\nDrive requirement decomposition and flowdown to subsystems and components\r\nOwn and maintain technical baseline and configuration control\r\nLead the definition, planning, and execution of the verification and validation approach, including qualification plans and acceptance test procedures (ATP)\r\nEnsure verification is tied directly to requirements and planned early in the development lifecycle\r\nLead and support gated product development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)\r\nIdentify, track, and drive closure of technical risks, interface issues, and system gaps\r\nIndependently analyze system performance and recommend design or architecture changes as needed\r\nFacilitate communication between customers, internal teams, and suppliers, ensuring clear understanding of system intent, constraints, and decisions\r\nSupport failure investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions\r\nContribute to improving systems engineering processes, tools, and execution across programs\r\nRequirements\r\nB.S. in Engineering or related technical field (or equivalent experience)\r\n10+ years of experience driving systems development in aerospace or related technical field\r\nExperience in systems engineering on rocket engine, thruster, or similar aerospace hardware development programs\r\nStrong understanding of propulsion systems, fluid systems, and system integration challenges\r\nDemonstrated experience in requirements definition, decomposition, and management\r\nExperience leading or supporting verification and validation planning and execution through hardware development lifecycles\r\nExperience supporting or leading gated design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR)\r\nAbility to drive system-level decision making and cross-functional alignment\r\nExperience working with customers (government or commercial)\r\nExperience with requirements management tools (e.g., JAMA or similar)\r\nU.S. Citizenship or permanent residency (U.S. persons) required\r\nPreferred Qualifications\r\nExperience developing space flight hardware with a comprehensive understanding of space design best practices.\r\nExperience with test plan development and hot fire testing of rocket engines\r\nExperienced in leading failure investigations and root cause analysis\r\nFamiliarity with NASA or other relevant industry standards.\r\nFamiliarity with Range Safety requirements, such as AFSPCMAN 91-710, and process of tailoring industry standard specification to a specific application\r\nExperience with leading teams and working with Government customers.\r\nExperience with Propulsion Systems Engineering is desired.\r\nClear and concise presentation skills.\r\nDemonstrated experience with risk and opportunity management activities and strategies\r\nPhysical Requirements\r\nProlonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer\r\nEmployment Type\r\nExempt\r\nWork Schedule\r\nFull-Time\r\nSalary\r\nThe 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.\r\nRemote\r\nThis role can be onsite or remote, and we are currently accepting candidates residing in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Utah, Texas, and Oklahoma. You must live and work from one of these states to work remotely for Agile Space Industries. Preference given towards candidate willing to relocate to Durango, CO.\r\nWhat You'll Love About Us\r\nAgile Space Industries offers exceptional benefits to support you and your family including generous health coverage, dental and vision plans, Flexible Time Off, parental leave, and a 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%. We are committed to creating a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, region, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.\r\nReasonable Accommodation\r\nAt Agile, our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request to hr@agilespaceindustries.com.\r\nJ-18808-Ljbffr","company":"Agile Space","rawCompany":"agile space","city":"Durango","state":"CO","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-04-19T03:10:13.035Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2011.00","title":"Aerospace Engineers","slug":"aerospace-engineers"},{"code":"17-2199.00","title":"Engineers, All Other","slug":"engineers-all-other"},{"code":"15-1299.08","title":"Computer Systems Engineers/Architects","slug":"computer-systems-engineers-architects"}],"industries":[{"code":"336415","title":"Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing","slug":"guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-propulsion-unit-and-propulsion-unit-parts-manufacturing"},{"code":"336414","title":"Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing","slug":"guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-manufacturing"},{"code":"336419","title":"Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing","slug":"other-guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-parts-and-auxiliary-equipment-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Senior Systems Engineer - Rocket Engine / Thruster Programs","description":"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.\r\nAt 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.\r\nWe 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.\r\nAgile is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to provide end-to-end systems engineering leadership across rocket engine and thruster development programs. This role is responsible for driving a clear, executable thread from customer mission and CONOPS through system requirements, architecture, design, verification, qualification, and delivery.\r\nThe ideal candidate brings strong system-level thinking and deep technical experience in propulsion or related aerospace hardware. This role works directly with the customer and internal teams to define the mission, translate it into requirements, and ensure the system is designed, built, and tested to meet those objectives. This position is accountable for maintaining technical coherence across disciplines and driving system-level decisions throughout the program lifecycle. The role requires leadership in requirements definition and flowdown, architecture development, trade studies, risk management, and verification and validation planning and execution. The candidate is responsible for working with the customer to drive agreement on requirements.\r\nAgile operates in a fast-paced development environment. This role is expected to take ownership, drive decisions, and ensure alignment across teams, customers, and suppliers to deliver a working, testable system.\r\nResponsibilities\r\nWork directly with customers to define mission objectives, CONOPS, and system success criteria\r\nTranslate mission needs into clear, testable system requirements and maintain end-to-end traceability through delivery\r\nLead system architecture development and trade studies, including evaluation of performance, risk, cost, and schedule impacts\r\nEnsure consistency and integration across propulsion, structures, avionics, thermal, fluids, and manufacturing interfaces\r\nDrive requirement decomposition and flowdown to subsystems and components\r\nOwn and maintain technical baseline and configuration control\r\nLead the definition, planning, and execution of the verification and validation approach, including qualification plans and acceptance test procedures (ATP)\r\nEnsure verification is tied directly to requirements and planned early in the development lifecycle\r\nLead and support gated product development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)\r\nIdentify, track, and drive closure of technical risks, interface issues, and system gaps\r\nIndependently analyze system performance and recommend design or architecture changes as needed\r\nFacilitate communication between customers, internal teams, and suppliers, ensuring clear understanding of system intent, constraints, and decisions\r\nSupport failure investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions\r\nContribute to improving systems engineering processes, tools, and execution across programs\r\nRequirements\r\nB.S. in Engineering or related technical field (or equivalent experience)\r\n10+ years of experience driving systems development in aerospace or related technical field\r\nExperience in systems engineering on rocket engine, thruster, or similar aerospace hardware development programs\r\nStrong understanding of propulsion systems, fluid systems, and system integration challenges\r\nDemonstrated experience in requirements definition, decomposition, and management\r\nExperience leading or supporting verification and validation planning and execution through hardware development lifecycles\r\nExperience supporting or leading gated design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR)\r\nAbility to drive system-level decision making and cross-functional alignment\r\nExperience working with customers (government or commercial)\r\nExperience with requirements management tools (e.g., JAMA or similar)\r\nU.S. Citizenship or permanent residency (U.S. persons) required\r\nPreferred Qualifications\r\nExperience developing space flight hardware with a comprehensive understanding of space design best practices.\r\nExperience with test plan development and hot fire testing of rocket engines\r\nExperienced in leading failure investigations and root cause analysis\r\nFamiliarity with NASA or other relevant industry standards.\r\nFamiliarity with Range Safety requirements, such as AFSPCMAN 91-710, and process of tailoring industry standard specification to a specific application\r\nExperience with leading teams and working with Government customers.\r\nExperience with Propulsion Systems Engineering is desired.\r\nClear and concise presentation skills.\r\nDemonstrated experience with risk and opportunity management activities and strategies\r\nPhysical Requirements\r\nProlonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer\r\nEmployment Type\r\nExempt\r\nWork Schedule\r\nFull-Time\r\nSalary\r\nThe 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.\r\nRemote\r\nThis role can be onsite or remote, and we are currently accepting candidates residing in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Utah, Texas, and Oklahoma. You must live and work from one of these states to work remotely for Agile Space Industries. Preference given towards candidate willing to relocate to Durango, CO.\r\nWhat You'll Love About Us\r\nAgile Space Industries offers exceptional benefits to support you and your family including generous health coverage, dental and vision plans, Flexible Time Off, parental leave, and a 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%. We are committed to creating a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, region, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.\r\nReasonable Accommodation\r\nAt Agile, our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request to hr@agilespaceindustries.com.\r\nJ-18808-Ljbffr","datePosted":"2026-04-19T03:10:13.035Z","dateModified":"2026-04-19T03:10:13.035Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Agile Space","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Durango","addressRegion":"CO","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"79c1e6bf306812721a7dab06"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/79c1e6bf306812721a7dab06"}}