Solid Rocket Motor Engineer

About

An international Aerospace company with 7 locations in 4 countries is opening up two brand new locations in Arlington, VA (Washington, DC) and a manufacturing facility in Hurt, VA.

The company is engaged in the manufacturing and development of space launchers and solid, liquid and cryogenic propulsion systems, payload adapters, and military tactical missiles. They are a Solid Rocket Motor subcontractor for the design and manufacturing of several international tactical missile programs. The company offers competitive solutions for launching institutional, governmental and commercial payloads in Earth orbit.

This aerospace subsidiary needs to hire 5 Solid Rocket Motor Engineers. These can be at the Junior, Mid, or Senior level. They are seeking engineers that are excited about being very hands-on and starting something from the ground-up.

Role Overview

The Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) Engineer will be responsible for the end-to-end design, analysis, and qualification of solid propulsion systems. This role blends mechanical design, materials science, and internal ballistics to create reliable motors for defense and space applications.

This Solid Rocket Motor Engineer will lead the development of SRM components — including cases, nozzles, and propellant grains —ensuring they meet strict performance and safety standards. You will work within a multidisciplinary team to optimize thrust profiles and manage the transition from conceptual design to full-scale manufacturing.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design & Analysis: Create and refine CAD models for motor components like nozzles, throats, and insulators using tools such as SolidWorks or Siemens NX.
• Perform 2D and 3D structural analysis (FEA) to ensure integrity under extreme pressures and temperatures.
• Ballistics Optimization: Collaborate with analysts to define propellant grain geometries and optimize burn rates, thrust curves, and pressure profiles.
• Testing & Qualification: Lead static fire test campaigns and ground-based prototyping.
• Analyze test data to validate performance and investigate any anomalies.
• Manufacturing Oversight: Oversee propellant casting, curing cycles, and the implementation of advanced manufacturing techniques like additive manufacturing or composite tape wrapping.
• Safety & Compliance: Ensure all designs and handling procedures adhere to energetic material safety standards and DOD/NASA regulations.

REQUIREMENTS

• We have 5 positions to fill and they can be at the Junior-level, Mid-level, or Senior-level, so years of experience will vary. Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering (mechanical or related) is required with 2 or more years of experience in ROCKET MOTOR design, building, and test environments.
• The positions will focus on design, analysis (FEA/thermal), and testing of propulsion hardware (nozzles, structures, propellant systems) and will require structural or thermal experience within a defense program.
• Must be US Citizen with ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance for ITAR restrictions.
• Key Technical Skillsrequired include experience with Propulsion, ANSYS mechanical (or Abaqus) FEA - Nozzle / Propellant / Grain - Thermal / Heat / Pressure / SolidWorks or Siemens NX.
• Rocket Motor / propulsion work - Testing (static fire, ground test) - Structural or Thermal analysis - High pressure / High temp systems
• Must be strong in FEA/CFD simulation software ANSYS and understand thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
• Must have Hands-on experience with propellant chemistry or energetic material handling.
• Must have knowledge of composite pressure vessel (COPV) design and filament winding.
• Should be familiar with insensitive munitions protocols.
• Should have some experience in several other domains, including Structural Components, SRM Performance, Structure Dynamics , Extreme Temperature Components, Materials and Process, Supply Chain / Procurement, and Quality Assurance.
• Must be willing and able to freely travel to Europe 2 to 3 times a year as needed.