System Design Engineer
Dawn Aerospace
Salary undisclosed
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Description
Description
Dawn Aerospace is looking for a System Design Engineer to lead the system-level development of custom spacecraft propulsion systems. In this role, you will be responsible for the full development lifecycle, from requirements definition and concept development through detailed design, integration, testing, and delivery. The role involves close collaboration with customers, project managers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the technical lead for the entire development cycle of a custom propulsion system
- Define and manage system-level requirements and establish their verification methods
- Define the technical budgets for the propulsion system
- Define the propulsion system architecture
- Develop the detailed design of the propulsion system
- Support AIT activities during propulsion system integration and testing
- Serve as the technical point of contact for the customer
- Work closely with project management and subsystem experts
Required Experience:
- A degree in aerospace, mechanical, or system engineering, or a closely related technical discipline
- At least three years of experience in the design and development of spacecraft systems or comparable hardware
- Experience in customer engagement
- Demonstrated ability to work within multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Proficiency in computer-aided design; experience with SolidWorks is preferred
- Experience using MATLAB, Python, or comparable tools for engineering analysis, modelling, data processing, or workflow automation
Desired Experience
- Experience with chemical or electric spacecraft propulsion systems
- Hands-on experience with aerospace hardware assembly, integration, and testing
- Working knowledge of ECSS, NASA, or comparable industry standards
- Experience collaborating across geographically distributed engineering teams
- Experience delivering flight hardware through rapid development cycles
Note that the role is a permanent position that will start with a fixed-term contract of 12 months.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Dawn Aerospace, we believe that diverse teams build better solutions. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences are valued and supported to do their best work.
About Dawn Aerospace
Dawn Aerospace is a space transportation company with a purpose.
Our mission is to enable the next generation of space users by providing more sustainable and scalable ways to access and move around in space. We believe this access, in the form of a transportation network, will fundamentally change what’s possible from space. We currently focus on three areas of space transportation:
- In-space propulsion
We're a leading supplier of turnkey green propulsion systems for various classes of satellites. Our systems utilise safe, accessible propellants and we have over 170 of these propulsion units on more than 40 operational satellites already. A further 200 units are in production. - In-space servicing
Coupled with our propulsion expertise, we are ensuring that our customers' satellites are refuellable. In the coming years, Dawn will offer a refueling service to enable life extension of customer satellites. This new market is aligned with our sustainability goal to ensue a clean and safe space for everyone! - Spaceplane
We are developing the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a runway, combining the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability of conventional airplanes to enable high-frequency, low-cost access to sub-orbital space.
Our international teams are distributed across four locations: the Netherlands, France, New Zealand, and the USA.
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Important!
If you think you have what it takes but are unsure that you check every box, we still want to hear from you.
To all recruitment agencies: Dawn Aerospace does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our job’s alias, our employees, or any other company location. Dawn Aerospace will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
About this role
Dawn Aerospace is seeking a System Design Engineer to own the technical development of custom spacecraft propulsion systems from initial requirements through flight delivery. You'll lead the full lifecycle—defining system-level requirements, establishing verification approaches, setting technical budgets, and architecting the propulsion system design. This is a hands-on role that bridges engineering and customer relations; you'll serve as the primary technical contact while collaborating closely with project managers and subsystem teams across the company's distributed locations.
The position requires at least three years of spacecraft or comparable hardware development experience, with a degree in aerospace, mechanical, or systems engineering. You should be comfortable with CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred), engineering analysis software like MATLAB or Python, and have proven experience engaging with customers and working across multidisciplinary teams. Background in chemical or electric propulsion, aerospace assembly and testing, or rapid development cycles would strengthen your candidacy, as would familiarity with industry standards like ECSS or NASA requirements.
This is an in-office role based in Delft, Netherlands, offered as a 12-month fixed-term contract with potential for permanence. You'll support integration and testing activities and work with a company that has already deployed over 170 propulsion units on operational satellites, with 200 more in production.
How this employer is doing
solid
- Recently Raised Funding
- Expanding
In the news
Dawn Aerospace closes $25 million Series B for global reusable space transportation expansion, CompositesWorld
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Pay for this role
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