Senior Systems Engineer - Rocket Engine / Thruster Programs

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.

Agile 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.

The 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.

Agile 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 lifecycles
• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• 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

This position is open across multiple levels (Staff, Senior, and Senior Staff Engineer). Final leveling will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and overall qualifications during the interview process. 

Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Employment Type: Exempt 

Work Schedule: Full-Time 

Salary: 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.  

 Posting Timeline: This position will remain open for a minimum of five (5) days and will continue to accept applications until the role is filled. Early applications are encouraged, as reviews and interviews may begin during the posting period. 

Remote #LI-Remote

This 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 these states to work remotely for Agile Space Industries. Preference given towards candidate willing to relocate to Durango, CO. 

What You'll Love About Us: Agile 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. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Agile, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the perfect fit for this role or another opportunity with us.

Reasonable Accommodation: At Agile, our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request to hr@agilespaceindustries.com.

Recruitment Notice: Agile Space Industries is not partnering with external recruiters or agencies at this time. Please do not contact our staff directly regarding open positions. All candidates must apply through our official application process to be considered.