Description

Agile Space Industries is a rapidly growing supplier of propulsion hardware and engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with expanding operations in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Agile has achieved more than 40% year-over-year growth for the past three years, and our momentum continues to accelerate.

At Agile, we design, build, and test in-space propulsion systems that give spacecraft the ability to maneuver with precision, reliability, and purpose. Our technologies play a critical role in missions that range from lunar landings and resource utilization to national defense, human exploration, and commercial space transport.

We are seeking bold and driven individuals who thrive in a hands-on, fast-moving environment and want to help write the next chapter of space history as part of a close-knit, innovative team.

Agile is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to provide end-to-end systems engineering leadership across tank and pressure vessel development programs. This role is responsible for driving a clear, executable thread from customer requirements through system requirements, design, manufacturing, verification, qualification, and delivery.

The ideal candidate brings strong system-level thinking and deep technical experience in pressure vessels, propulsion systems, or related aerospace hardware. This role works directly with the customer and internal teams to translate requirements into an executable system and ensure the system is designed, built, and tested to meet those objectives.

This position is accountable for maintaining technical coherence across disciplines and driving system-level decisions throughout the program lifecycle. The role requires leadership in requirements definition and flowdown, manufacturing integration, materials and process considerations, risk management, and verification and validation planning and execution. The candidate is responsible for working with the customer to drive agreement on requirements.

Agile operates in a fast-paced development environment. This role is expected to take ownership, drive decisions, and ensure alignment across teams, customers, and suppliers to deliver a working, testable system.

This is an open position at multiple levels from Staff to Principal Engineering level and will be assessed as part of the candidate review process.

Responsibilities

Work directly with customers to define system requirements, use cases, and success criteria
Translate customer needs into clear, testable system requirements and maintain end-to-end traceability through delivery
Support system architecture development and trade studies, including evaluation of performance, risk, cost, and schedule impacts
Ensure consistency and integration across structures, materials, manufacturing, welding, NDE, fluids, and test interfaces
Drive requirement decomposition and flowdown to subsystems and components
Own and maintain technical baseline and configuration control
Lead the definition, planning, and execution of the verification and validation approach, including qualification plans and acceptance test procedures (ATP)
Ensure verification is tied directly to requirements and planned early in the development lifecycle
Lead and support gated product development reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)
Identify, track, and drive closure of technical risks, manufacturing issues, interface issues, and system gaps
Support manufacturing readiness including weld development, weld procedures, cleaning processes, and build planning
Independently analyze system performance and recommend design or process changes as needed
Facilitate communication between customers, internal teams, and suppliers, ensuring clear understanding of system intent, constraints, and decisions
Support failure investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
Contribute to improving systems engineering processes, tools, and execution across programs

Requirements

B.S. in Engineering or related technical field (or equivalent experience)
10+ year of experience in systems engineering and or mechanical engineering in aerospace or related technical field
Experience with propellant tank systems for rocket engines
Experience with ebeam welding and welding of metallic surfaces for aerospace applications
Strong understanding of pressure vessels, materials properties, and manufacturing processes, fluid systems, and system integration challenges
Demonstrated experience in requirements definition, decomposition, and management
Experience leading or supporting verification and validation planning and execution through hardware development lifecycles
Experience with test planning and test execution of pressure vessels
Ability to drive system-level decision making and cross-functional alignment
Experience working with customers (government or commercial)
Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., JAMA or similar)
U.S. Citizenship or permanent residency required

Preferred Qualifications

Experience developing pressure vessels or propellant tanks for aerospace applications
Experience with weld development, weld qualification, and inspection methods (e.g., NDE/NDI)
Familiarity with cleaning processes for oxygen or propulsion systems
Experience with materials selection, compatibility, and fracture/structural considerations
Experience supporting manufacturing processes including weld prep, assembly, and build sequencing
Experience with propulsion systems integration is desired
Familiarity with NASA or other relevant industry standards
Experience leading failure investigations and root cause analysis
Experience with risk and opportunity management activities and strategies
Clear and concise presentation skills

This position is open across multiple levels (Staff, Senior, and Senior Staff Engineer). Final leveling will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and overall qualifications during the interview process.

Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Employment Type: Exempt

Work Schedule: Full-Time

Location: Durango, CO

This role is onsite in Durango CO, this is not a remote position and the candidate must be onsite to support the hardware development and manufacturing efforts.

Salary: The expected salary range for this role is $128,000 – $200,000 annually. Final compensation will be based on factors such as experience, skills, and internal equity, and is typically made within the midrange, rather than the upper end.

Posting Timeline: This position will remain open for a minimum of five (5) days and will continue to accept applications until the role is filled. Early applications are encouraged, as reviews and interviews may begin during the posting period.

Onsite #LI-Onsite

What You'll Love About Us: Agile Space Industries offers exceptional benefits to support you and your family including generous health coverage, dental and vision plans, Flexible Time Off, parental leave, and a 401(k) with 100% company match up to 4%.We are committed to creating a diverse work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, region, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Agile, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the perfect fit for this role or another opportunity with us.

Reasonable Accommodation: At Agile, our goal is to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates applying and interviewing at the Laboratory. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request to hr@agilespaceindustries.com.

Recruitment Notice: Agile Space Industries is not partnering with external recruiters or agencies at this time. Please do not contact our staff directly regarding open positions. All candidates must apply through our official application process to be considered.

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