Sr Electric Propulsion Engineer

About Orbitt Space

ultra-low Earth orbit (ULEO)

Electric Propulsion Engineer

Key Responsibilities

• Design and development of

  electric propulsion systems

  , including

  gridded ion thrusters, Hall effect thrusters, RF plasma thrusters, and air-breathing electric propulsion systems

  .
• Perform

  numerical and analytical modeling

  of plasma discharge, ion optics, beam neutralization, and overall thruster performance.
• Develop

  RF power systems

  and

  propellant feed subsystems

  integrated with ion and plasma sources.
• Conduct

  vacuum chamber testing

  for plasma ignition, discharge characterization, and thrust performance evaluation.
• Implement

  test automation

  and

  closed-loop control systems

  using

  LabVIEW

  for thruster performance testing and diagnostics.
• Support

  thruster control electronics

  development, including power conditioning, grid voltage regulation, and discharge control.
• Analyze experimental data, generate

  test reports, design documentation, and performance summaries

  .
• Collaborate with

  electronics, mechanical, and thermal design teams

  for seamless system integration.
• Support

  mission analysis and thruster sizing

  for different orbital regimes (LEO, ULEO, ULEO).

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in

  Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Plasma Physics

  , or a related field.

• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience post-degree

  in

  Plasma

  and/or

  Propulsion systems development

  .
• Strong foundation in

  electric propulsion principles

  , plasma generation, and beam dynamics.
• Practical experience with

  hall effect thrusters, gridded ion thrusters

  or

  ion optics design

  .
• Proficiency with

  vacuum systems

  ,

  high-voltage power supplies

  , and

  RF power electronics

  .
• Hands-on experience with

  test automation and closed-loop control

  using

  LabVIEW

  .
• Familiarity with

  diagnostic instruments

  such as Langmuir probes, Faraday cups, thrust balances, and mass spectrometers.
• Proficiency in

  COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS, MATLAB, and Simulink

  for modeling and simulation.
• Strong understanding of

  DC-DC converter design

  ,

  control loops

  , and

  signal conditioning

  .
• Excellent analytical, documentation, and teamwork skills.

Preferred Experience

• Prior work on

  gridded ion thrusters, Hall effect thrusters, or RF plasma sources

  .
• Knowledge of

  ion optics fabrication

  ,

  beam neutralizer design

  , and

  space-qualified grid materials

  (e.g., molybdenum, graphite).
• Experience with

  mass flow controllers

  and

  propellant flow systems

  (argon, xenon, krypton).
• Familiarity with

  CAD tools (SolidWorks, CATIA)

  for thermal and mechanical integration.
• Exposure to

  space system integration

  ,

  environmental testing

  , or

  vacuum-compatible hardware

  .
• Experience in

  space R&D labs or space propulsion startups

  .

Tools & Platforms

• Simulation:

  COMSOL Multiphysics, MATLAB, Simulink, ANSYS

• Control & Testing:

  LabVIEW, NI DAQ, Oscilloscope, Vacuum Instrumentation

• Project Management:

  Jira (Atlassian), Confluence, Notion

• Documentation:

  MS Office, Excel, Power point

Why Join Orbitt Space

💼 Work on frontier technologies – Plasma thrusters, Advanced Power systems, and next-gen propulsion systems.

🧠 R&D-focused role with direct technical ownership and innovation opportunities.

🚀 Exposure to the space technology ecosystem — direct contribution to flight hardware development.

💰 Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.

📈 Fast career growth in a rapidly scaling deep-tech startup environment.

🧩 Access to advanced lab infrastructure and cutting-edge test equipment.

🌍 Collaborative and innovation-driven culture that values creativity and experimentation.

📚 Opportunities for publication, patents, and conference participation in collaboration with top research institutions.