Propulsion Lead

About the Role

A fast growing Canadian aerospace and space technology company in the Greater Toronto Area is hiring a Propulsion Lead, full time and on site in Markham, Ontario. This is the senior technical and program leadership seat for rocket propulsion. You will own the architecture, design, analysis and development of liquid rocket propulsion systems and subsystems, from requirements through hot fire testing and flight readiness, and lead the multidisciplinary team that delivers them.

What You Will Do

You will be the technical authority for propulsion design decisions, performance requirements and system trades, and you will take the team through design reviews, qualification campaigns and flight readiness evaluations. Day to day you will oversee the development of engine components and systems, direct the analyses and investigations that keep the program sound, define how engines and systems get tested and accepted, and manage the schedules, risks, budgets and people behind it all. You will also represent propulsion with customers, suppliers, regulators and executive leadership, and feed into proposals, technology roadmaps and strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, analysis and development of rocket propulsion systems and subsystems
• Serve as the technical authority for propulsion design decisions, performance requirements and system trades
• Take propulsion system requirements and create verification plans and qualification strategies
• Conduct design reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR and FRR
• Establish engineering standards, best practices and design methodologies
• Oversee the development of liquid rocket engine thrust chambers, turbomachinery, feed lines, valves, TVC, control units, ignitors and gas generators
• Perform or oversee thermal, structural, fluid dynamics and reliability analyses
• Lead anomaly investigations, root cause analyses and corrective action implementation
• Define engine and system level test objectives and acceptance criteria
• Support hot fire testing, qualification campaigns and flight readiness evaluations
• Analyze test data and identify design improvements
• Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace safety and quality standards
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of propulsion, mechanical, electrical and test engineers
• Manage technical schedules, risk registers, budgets and resource planning
• Interface with customers, suppliers, regulatory agencies and executive leadership
• Support proposal development, technology roadmaps and strategic planning efforts

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• 8+ years of experience in rocket propulsion development or engine propulsion development
• 5+ years of technical leadership or engineering management experience
• Demonstrated experience with liquid rocket propulsion systems
• Experience supporting propulsion testing and flight programs
• Strong understanding of engineering first principles and project management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Legally authorized to work in Canada and able to obtain and maintain a Controlled Goods Program security assessment

What's on Offer

A competitive salary, a comprehensive health benefits plan, paid vacation, and the chance to lead the propulsion program of a fast growing Canadian space company from the design table through hot fire and into flight.