Propulsion & High Energy Systems Engineer

About Wardstone

The Modular Interceptor Platform

Tech

Wardstone’s product is a low-cost, modular interceptor for air and missile defense. It is built on a common airframe that can be configured with a mission-tailored seeker, propulsion, and payload modules. It defeats air-breathing and cruise missile threats at a fraction of the cost of exquisite interceptors, adding affordable magazine depth to existing air defense systems.

The role

We are looking for a Propulsion and High-Energy Systems Engineer to own the development of the impulse-generation systems that power our first product, Hailstorm. This includes gas generators, micro-thrusters, solid propulsion elements, high-pressure systems, fast-acting valves, detonation-assisted dispersal systems, and high-temperature/pressure fluid dynamics.You will design, analyze, prototype, test, and iterate propulsion and dispersal hardware capable of producing extreme accelerations, high mass flow, and low latency response times.You will work side-by-side with the founders, mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers. You will own the on-vehicle high energy systems from concept to demonstration### **What You’ll Do****High-Impulse System Design*** Design/select compact propulsion and impulse systems: gas generators, cold-gas thrusters, and solid micro-motors.* Model combustion, mass flow, thrust curves, chamber pressures, and heat transfer.* Evaluate tradeoffs between solid, liquid, or other propulsion architectures.**High-Pressure & High-G Hardware*** Design pressure vessels, regulators, burst disks, check valves, fast-response actuators, and timing mechanisms.* Simulate structural integrity under high G’s and perform empirical testing.* Integrate sensors (pressure, temperature, vibration) for test instrumentation and feedback.**Dispersal & Impulse Transfer Mechanisms*** Co-design the systems responsible for deploying Wardstone’s kinetic interceptor solution.* Model shock propagation, material acceleration, and high-velocity ejecta characteristics.* Work closely with the detonation/energetics engineer to integrate hybrid or explosive-augmented systems.**Simulation & Analysis*** Use CFD, CEA, FEA, and custom simulation tools to evaluate propulsion behavior.* Run data-driven design cycles: test → instrument → analyze → redesign.* Define requirements for Δv, rise time, thrust profiles, and thermal durability.**Testing & Qualification*** Plan and execute high-G tests, pressure tests, thermal tests, and impulse characterization.* Work with external test ranges, explosive facilities, and instrumentation teams.* Develop test fixtures, data acquisition setups, and high-speed video capture systems.**Integration & Full System Ownership*** Collaborate with mechanical engineers on structures that withstand high impulse loads.* Collaborate with electrical engineers on ignition, actuation, and safety interlocks.* Collaborate with controls engineers on predictor models and impulse sequencing.### **Required Qualifications*** B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or related field.* Demonstrated experience with propulsion design, combustion, energetics, or high-pressure systems.* Strong modeling experience: CEA, CFD (OpenFOAM/ANSYS/COMSOL), MATLAB/Python, or equivalent.* Hands-on test experience: ignition, valves, tanks, pressure systems, or propulsion rigs.* Deep understanding of flow, combustion, heat transfer, and structural limits.* **US CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED**### **Nice to Haves*** Experience with solid motors, gas generators, pyrotechnics, shaped charges, or hybrid propulsion.* Experience designing hardware for missiles, UAVs, rockets, or aerospace systems.* Exposure to MIL-STD testing (thermal, vibration, shock, environmental).* Experience with high-speed DAQ, strain gauges, thermocouples, and high-speed cameras.* Hands-on build experience: machining, pressure plumbing, test fixture design.