Full-Time
Propulsion Engineering Manager
Posted on 9/9/2025
Astranis
501-1,000 employees
GEO satellites delivering bandwidth-as-a-service
Compensation Overview
$150k - $215k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
San Francisco, CA, USA
In Person
US Citizenship Required
 Aerospace Engineering (1) |
|---|
- Bachelor's Degree or higher in a technical discipline (e.g. engineering, physics) or equivalent experience
- Proven leadership through project management, mentorship, and people management experience
- 7+ years of industry experience in a design and manufacture-related role
- Previous aerospace or similar product design and production experience (full product development cycle)
- Hands-on experience working with fluid or gas feed systems
- Working knowledge of in-space electric and chemical propulsion systems
- Exceptional time management skills, verbal & written communication skills, and organizational skills
- An interest in working in a fast-paced environment and doing hands-on design/development
- Lead a team of Propulsion Engineers to design, test, and operate propulsion systems including hiring and managing direct reports
- Oversee system design including architecture development, architecture trade studies, make/buy decisions, vendor selection, and supporting analysis
- Act as a primary interface to other engineering disciplines, production, and mission operations
- Ensure competitiveness through continuous technical innovation and industry expertise
- Manage propulsion-related schedule and risk in partnership with the Program Management team
- Hire and retain top-tier talent within the Propulsion Engineering team
- Experience with geostationary satellite missions
- Experience with fluid and gas system component design
- Familiarity with AFSPCMAN 91-710 and other Range Safety documentation and requirements
- Experience writing Python for scientific calculation and data processing
- Specific experience with low thrust monopropellant, green monopropellant, and electric propulsion systems
Astranis builds and operates small, low-cost satellites in geostationary orbit to provide bandwidth-as-a-service for global connectivity. Its satellites carry telecom payloads that deliver internet capacity to customers, including commercial entities and government agencies, via turnkey services that simplify procurement and reduce costs. Customers buy bandwidth and use Astranis’ satellite capacity to reach previously unserved regions, rather than building and managing their own satellites. The company differentiates itself by owning the design, manufacturing, and operation of its GEO satellites, enabling cost-efficient, turnkey connectivity solutions for markets that traditional providers overlook. The goal is to close the digital divide by bringing affordable internet access to billions of people worldwide and to build a large, sustainable market for satellite-based connectivity.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Series E
Total Funding
$1.2B
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
2015
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- $450M funding expands MicroGEO production for 100 satellites by 2030.
- Chunghwa Telecom partners for Taiwan's first dedicated MicroGEO satellite.
- USSF and NASA contracts secure high-margin government revenue streams.
What critics are saying
- Block 3 satellites delay to 2025 erodes first-mover edge versus Starlink.
- Starlink Starshield achieves price parity by 2027, squeezing defense margins.
- $1B backlog relies on few customers; Thaicom loss triggers 20% revenue drop.
What makes Astranis unique
- MicroGEO satellites deliver 8.5 Gbit/s throughput, exceeding 7.5 Gbit/s specs.
- Vanguard enables air-gapped point-to-point comms via MicroGEO for defense.
- Omega satellites provide 50 Gbps at 600 kg mass from 2026 launches.
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Benefits
An equity stake in the company.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Unlimited vacation days.
Healthy, delicious, free lunch catered in every day.
Complementary OneMedical membership.
Great office chairs, stand-up desks, and a machine shop.
Reimbursement to spend on commuting from outside SF
Generous, fully-paid parental leave.
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↓ -1%2 year growth
↑ 1%Chunghwa Telecom has entered a partnership with Astranis to create a geostationary satellite specifically designed for Taiwan.
Taipei, April 15 (CNA) Taiwan-based telecom service provider Chunghwa Telecom Co. recently signed a strategic agreement with Astranis Space Technologies Corp., an American satellite start-up, to develop the first dedicated compact geostationary orbit (MicroGEO) satellite for Taiwan.
Astranis, operator of a satellite internet company intended to bridge the digital divide, raised an additional $50 million of Series D venture funding from NTT Docomo Ventures, and other investors.
As part of this ambitious effort, Orbits first partnered with Astranis, the world's leading operator of dedicated communications satellites, to construct its latest satellite.
Astranis to develop resilient GPS satellites for USSF.