---
title: 'Chief Engineer at Momentus Space LLC'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/chief-engineer-momentus-space-llc-san-jose-ca-h79gdy1htxas'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Chief Engineer at Momentus Space LLC

- **Company:** Momentus Space LLC
- **Location:** San Jose CA, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-07-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/momentus/jobs/6109782004

## Job description

## OUR COMPANY

As an early mover in the in-space transportation and infrastructure services, Momentus is at the forefront of the commercialization of space. With an experienced team of aerospace, propulsion, and robotics engineers, Momentus has developed a cost-effective and energy-efficient in-space transport system.

## OUR PEOPLE

Daring problems require daring solutions.  We boldly charge into uncharted territory knowing that no matter the outcome we will benefit from the journey and move closer to our goals no matter what. Our teams know that working at Momentus means more than building innovative technology, it means creating entirely new markets in the space economy. We are level-headed, business-minded strategic thinkers intent on providing immediate value to our customers today while simultaneously preparing for the vast possibilities of the future. If this sounds like you, we should talk.

## JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Chief Engineer to play a pivotal role in leading the design, analysis, development, integration, and launch of our space vehicles. You will be working closely with a functional engineering team to allow us to meet our objectives and achieve mission success.  You will be responsible for overseeing the technical strategy, execution, and delivery of these systems, ensuring they meet the highest standards of performance, reliability, and safety.

Key Responsibilities:

- As the Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for managing the technical integrity and technical baseline for Momentus.
- Act as the independent technical authority for providing assessments of requirements, design, risks, and schedule with the Program Managers and product owners.
- Identify gaps between requirements, design, manufacturing, operations and facility solutions with project teams on practical solutions across the life cycle.
- Assess and disposition aggregate technical risks across programs and technology development projects.
- Assess and approve technical completion and compliance at major program and element technical reviews.
- You will provide engineering leadership and mentoring to coordinate design, analysis, and systems engineering processes throughout development, verification, delivery and operation.
- Provide independent review of corrective actions for major failures at the program/product level and work with functional managers in addressing systemic issues.
- Collaborate with program and company leadership to define and assess technology road-map alignment product needs and industry developments.
- Ensure that engineering and manufacturing processes are in place, adequate and utilized appropriately.
- Collaborate with other members to assess and implement engineering process health and compliance with standards for product / program. Represent the Company and project with key customers and partners.
- Focusing horizontally on resolving high-level Systems challenges
- Ensuring execution of overall technical plan within the Integrated Master Schedule
- Responsible for ensuring program technical excellence as commensurate with program scope, customer expectations and company interest
- Through program gate reviews, oversee technical aspects of projects ensuring appropriate design, analysis and testing is conducted
- Review designs for cost, manufacturing, and quality assurance
- Provide customer facing technical leadership and guidance

Engineering Operational

- Define and maintain system requirements for flight spacecraft hardware and software
- Perform trade studies and analyses for spacecraft hardware selection
- Support verification of system and subsystem requirements
- Lead system design reviews and support program technical reviews
- Manage spacecraft harnessing and interface design
- Support regulatory and customer payload technical exchanges
- Support AI&T planning and execution for flight spacecraft and subsystems
- Create test plans and procedures to validate spacecraft and subsystem performance
- Develop and maintain risk mitigation strategies
- Support non-conformance and issue tracking for spacecraft hardware
- Support on-orbit operations and flight anomaly resolution activities
- Provide guidance, mentorship and leadership to all levels of engineers

Required Skills and Experience

- Knowledge of Vehicle Product development designs including structures; guidance, navigation, software, propulsion, electronics/payloads, communications, materials, subsystems, and Integration and Testing
- Knowledge in the development of high-fidelity aerospace vehicle control and dynamics, vehicle structural dynamics, and accuracy simulations and performance assessment (including propulsion, steering and control, and accuracy)
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated experience with high value customer presentations, with ability to focus on multiple projects with competing priorities
- Ability to collaborate and achieve consensus when dealing with groups from diverse organizations and backgrounds
- Experience integrating multiple engineering specialties and stakeholders across multiple Integrated Product Teams and Suppliers
- Experience leading design, production, and integration of complex systems
- Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) experience
- Strong understanding and broad application of complex engineering systems (engineering standards, configuration management, material review board, process control, tooling, facilities, software, etc.)
- Demonstrated ability to make difficult technical decisions with good judgement
- Demonstrated ability to work with multifunctional teams and drive to results
- Design Engineering/Computer-aided Design (CAD) experience and engineering releases utilizing Product Lifecycle Management tools
- Experience defining requirements and executing verification plans
- Experience performing system level trade studies
- Experience creating power, communications and mass budgets
- Experience leading a technical team in system level reviews
- Experience with spacecraft mission analysis, design, and AI&T
- Ability to work independently
- Excellent technical communications skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills

Desired Skills and Experience:

- Expert knowledge of Vehicle Product development designs including structures; guidance, navigation, software, propulsion, electronics/payloads, communications, materials, subsystems, and Integration and Testing
- Expert knowledge in the development of high-fidelity aerospace vehicle control and dynamics, vehicle structural dynamics, and accuracy simulations and performance assessment (including propulsion, steering and control, and accuracy)
- Subject Matter Expert {SME) experience and familiarity with high accuracy inertial measurement system modeling and performance; including calibration and alignment principles, Kalman filtering, and instrument error modeling
- SME experience in subsystem and vehicle model maturation and validation using test and proven analytical methods
- SME experience and knowledge in principles of MBSE (Model Based System Engineering)
- Experience with industry program management processes including CCB, ERB, EVMS, and Risk Management
- Previous experience working on DoD and other USG development and deployment programs
- Ability to hold and maintain a USG Security Clearance

Education & Work Experience:

- BS, MS, and/or Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline
- 15+ years relevant experience in full life-cycle development of spacecraft

Compensation:

Annual Base Salary Range: $275,000 - $325,000/per year Base pay is one part of our total compensation package (base+bonus+equity) and is determined within a range. Your actual base salary will be determined on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Our benefit plans include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k retirement plan, short and long term disability and life insurance. We also offer flexible PTO, along with 11 paid holidays, sick time and paid parental leave.

This is a full-time position in San Jose, California. This position requires access to export-controlled commodities, technical data, technology, software, and services. U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3) is required.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

To all recruitment agencies: Momentus does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our employees or any company email. Momentus will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

## About Momentus Space LLC

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Momentus Space is an American commercial space company providing in-space transportation, hosted payloads, and orbital infrastructure services using its proprietary Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) powered by water-based propulsion.
- **Entity Type**: Public (NASDAQ: MNTS)
- **Headquarters**: San Jose, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2017
- **Founders**: Mikhail Kokorich

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing / In-Space Transportation & Infrastructure Services
- **Target customers**: B2B, primarily serving commercial satellite operators, government agencies (NASA, DARPA, U.S. Space Force), and defense contractors.
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To make new ways of operating in space possible by providing backbone infrastructure services that empower customers to use space in dynamic and beneficial ways.

## Products & Services
- **Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV)**: A transfer and service vehicle that uses a proprietary Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET) powered by water propellant. Provides orbital transportation, hosted payload services, and in-orbit servicing.
- **Delivery Service**: Point-to-point transportation and deployment of customer payloads to desired orbits.
- **Hosted Service**: Orbit transfer and maintenance, attitude control, and power/communications interfaces for telemetry, commanding, and data downlinking for the full mission duration.
- **Tape Spring Solar Array (TASSA)**: An in-house developed technology demonstration for deployable solar arrays.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: ~$19.9 million (as of mid-2026)
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of $1.1 million; Total funding raised of ~$363.7 million (including post-IPO rounds)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Partners include NASA, DARPA, U.S. Space Force, Caltech (Space-based Solar Power Project), SpaceX (launch provider). Investors include seed and post-IPO equity backers.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Successfully launched three Vigoride missions (Vigoride-1, Vigoride-5, Vigoride-6) on SpaceX Transporter rideshare missions between 2022-2023.
  - Transitioned focus to national security space and advanced orbital robotics under CEO John Rood (former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy).
  - Active job postings up 1,200% year-over-year, with 13 open positions as of mid-2026.
  - Employee headcount grew 9.1% YoY to 41 people.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary water plasma propulsion**: The Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET) uses water as propellant—a safe, low-cost, and widely available consumable—differentiating it from traditional chemical or electric propulsion systems.
- **National security focus**: Leadership with deep Pentagon and defense connections positions the company for classified and government contracts, a high-moat segment.
- **First-mover in in-space infrastructure**: One of the few commercial companies offering orbital transfer and hosted payload services as a core business, not just a rideshare add-on.

## Strategic Focus
- **National security and defense**: Under current CEO John Rood, the company is pivoting toward serving the U.S. Space Force, DARPA, and other defense agencies with orbital robotics and secure in-space services.
- **Commercial expansion**: Booking customers for late 2026 and into 2027 for delivery and hosted payload missions.
- **Technology maturation**: Continuing development of the Vigoride OSV and MET propulsion, along with new in-space assembly capabilities.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & environment**: A small, fast-moving team (41 employees) with a startup ethos, focused on solving hard engineering problems in space. However, employee reviews on LinkedIn rate the culture at 2.2/5.0 and career growth at 2.3/5.0, indicating challenges in workplace satisfaction.
- **Remote/hybrid policy**: Not explicitly stated, but headquarters is in San Jose, CA with presence in Canada and Thailand. Likely requires on-site presence for engineering roles given the hardware focus.
- **Notable perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge space technology (water propulsion, orbital robotics) with direct impact on national security missions. High growth in hiring suggests expanding teams.
- **Engineering culture**: Strong technical team—20 of 41 employees are in technical roles. Many hires come from SpaceX, Maxar, NASA JPL, and Lockheed Martin. Active roles include Thermal Engineer, Chief Engineer, Power Systems Engineer, and Structural Analyst.

## Sources
1. [momentus.space](https://momentus.space/)
2. [momentus.space/missions](https://momentus.space/missions/)
3. [momentus.space/services](https://momentus.space/services/)
4. [LinkedIn Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/momentusinc)
5. [momentus.space/press](https://momentus.space/press/)

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