Head of Propulsion

About the Company: Building a reusable orbital-class launch vehicle with world-class experience and institutional backing. Industry Aviation & Aerospace Type Privately Held

About the Role: The Company is seeking a Head of Propulsion to join their world-class team. The successful candidate will be responsible for setting and executing the technical direction and architecture of propulsion and vehicle fluid systems. This includes owning the development, qualification, production, flight, and reuse of the engine and stage fluid systems. The role demands a leader with a deep background in liquid bipropellant rocket engines, a proven track record in building and leading engineering teams, and expertise in combustion devices, turbomachinery, and complex fluid systems. The Head of Propulsion will also be tasked with driving the design and integration of propulsion solutions, leading test campaigns, and ensuring a culture of safety and extreme ownership within the propulsion organization. Applicants for the Head of Propulsion position at the company should have a strong background in the design, analysis, development, qualification, and operation of liquid bipropellant rocket engines. The ideal candidate will have a history of hands-on involvement in test and flight campaigns, as well as experience in a startup environment. Key requirements include a deep understanding of combustion devices, turbomachinery, and fluid systems, with a focus on first-principles engineering and a strong grounding in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and structural mechanics. The role also requires a leader who can effectively partner with cross-functional teams, interface with customers and regulatory agencies, and is fluent in the startup culture of iterative design-build-test cycles. While not mandatory, experience in reusable propulsion, clustered-engine systems, and familiarity with propulsion certification processes is highly valued. Functions Engineering