Propulsion Test Team Lead

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.

Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Propulsion Test Team Lead

As our Propulsion Test Team Lead you will be responsible for testing & fueling our propulsion systems.  You will lead, and continue building, a team of world class propulsion test engineers and technicians.  

Role

• Lead a team of Propulsion test engineers and technicians that test satellite propulsion systems, including hiring and managing direct reports.
• Create and enforce quality standards and processes to ensure proper verification of unit-level and system-level hardware. Evaluate non-conformances to determine root cause and create corrective action plans and system improvements
• Manage day-to-day activities of propulsion test, including creating processes for assigning and tracking work across production & development testing programs.
• Create and enforce a culture of safety and quality throughout the workplace.
• Evaluate proposed designs for testability and work closely with design engineering teams on new designs and processes to enable factory output growth targets up to 24 vehicles per year
• Create, maintain and communicate detailed schedules, ensuring your team and other stakeholders are aware of tasks and deadlines, including resource identification and acquisition.
• Own the test infrastructure needed to test our current and next generation propulsion system, including factor layout, safety equipment, and test beds. 
• Work hands-on with flight hardware alongside your team to ensure mission success.
• Develop ironbirds (test beds) for doing flight-like development and qualification testing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering.
• 5+ years of professional experience in a hardware manufacturing or production environment (aerospace preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to manage a lab and/or production facilities, equipment, and operations.
• Proven leadership through project management, mentorship, or people management experience.
• Hands-on experience working with fluid or gas feed systems.
• Ability to use ERP/MES systems for creating procedures, tracking hardware ad builds, and enforcing quality processes.
• Strong communication (written and verbal), organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Strong fluid systems engineering intuition and critical thinking. Comfort with ambiguity and turning high-level requirements into clear design/test objectives.

Bonus

• Direct management experience of engineers or technicians
• Experience with fluid and gas system component design.
• Experience designing & maintaining test infrastructure
• Specific experience with low thrust monopropellant, green monopropellant, and electric propulsion systems
• Experience in spacecraft fueling and launch operations.
• Familiarity with AFSPCMAN 91-710 and other Range Safety documentation and requirements

What we offer: 

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

Base Salary

$160,000—$195,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and our products are meant to connect the world and everyone in it, regardless of gender, race, creed, or any other distinction. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we encourage all people to join our team and bring their unique perspective to help make us stronger.