---
title: 'Propulsion Engineer at wardstone.space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-5ez4q6jh0mr1'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-05'
---

# Propulsion Engineer at wardstone.space

- **Company:** wardstone.space
- **Location:** El Segundo, CA
- **Compensation:** $100k–$160k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-13
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/wardstone-space/am9icG9zdDoA5YEqe6vIszLAsR6_KtUD

## Job description

## Overview

Wardstone is looking for a Propulsion Engineer to own the development of the main engine and divert systems that power our first product, Hailstorm. This includes gas generators, micro-thrusters, solid rocket motors (SRMs), 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.

## What You’ll Do

High-Impulse System & Solid Rocket Motor Design

- Design and select compact propulsion and impulse systems: solid rocket motors, gas generators, and cold-gas thrusters.
- Perform solid propellant grain design and 3D burnback geometry analysis to tailor thrust curves (progressive, regressive, neutral).
- Model internal ballistics, combustion, mass flow, chamber pressures, and heat transfer.
- Select appropriate propellant formulations, internal insulation, and ablative nozzle materials to survive extreme thermal environments.
- Evaluate tradeoffs between solid, liquid, or hybrid propulsion architectures for specific interceptor flight regimes.

High-Pressure & High-G Hardware

- Design motor casings, 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 igniter development (pyrogen/pyrotechnic), hybrid, or explosive-augmented systems.

Simulation & Analysis

- Use CFD, CEA, FEA, and custom simulation tools to evaluate propulsion behavior, including nozzle throat erosion and slag accumulation.
- 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 solid motor static fires.

- Work with external test ranges, explosive facilities, instrumentation teams, and ensure strict safety protocols for handling energetic materials (Class 1.1/1.3).
- 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 and internal motor pressures.

- Collaborate with electrical engineers on ignition trains (ESDs, EBWs), actuation, and safety interlocks.
- Collaborate with controls engineers on predictor models and impulse sequencing.

Required Qualifications

- B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience with propulsion design, combustion, energetics, or high-pressure systems.
- Hands-on experience with solid rocket motor development from concept through static fire, including grain design, igniters, and nozzle integration.
- Hands-on test experience: ignition, valves, tanks, pressure systems, or propulsion rigs.
- Deep understanding of internal flow, combustion, heat transfer, and structural limits.
- Experience designing hardware for missiles, interceptors, rockets, or other aerospace systems.
- US Person or Lawful Permanent Resident status required.

Nice to Haves

- Familiarity with solid propellant chemistry (e.g., APCP, HTPB, double-base) and casting/curing processes.
- 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.
- Strong modeling experience: CEA, CFD (OpenFOAM/ANSYS/COMSOL), MATLAB/Python, or equivalent.

## About wardstone.space

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Wardstone builds a modular, low-cost interceptor platform for air and missile defense, designed to counter threats from Group 4 UAS to medium-range ballistic missiles.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage; raised $5M)
- **Headquarters**: El Segundo, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2025
- **Founders**: Sebastian Fischer (CEO) and Tobias Fischer

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Missile Defense, Space-Based Interceptors
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense (Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, Air Force Research Labs), allied nations
- **Mission or purpose**: To out-produce, out-innovate, and out-perform adversaries by building a modular interceptor platform that can be mass-produced, rapidly adapted, and fielded at the pace of evolving threats.

## Products & Services
- **Hailstorm (Ground-Based Interceptor)**: A right-sized, modular surface-based interceptor demonstrated in the Mojave (Mach 2.5, 40,000 ft). Uses a large particle cloud (1 km diameter) to kinetically neutralize hypersonic and ballistic missiles, reducing cost and sensing requirements.
- **Space-Based Interceptor Constellation**: Satellites equipped with kinetic interceptors designed to counter hypersonic and ballistic missiles from orbit. Part of the “Golden Dome” concept.
- **Modular Platform Architecture**: Interchangeable components allow mission-specific configuration, rapid upgrades, and parallel production across multiple suppliers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding — $5M seed round (raised from Nova Threshold, Liquid 2 Ventures, Bow Capital, B5 Capital, Allegis Capital)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Y Combinator (fall 2025 cohort), relationships with AFWERX, Space Systems Command, Air Force Research Labs, Navy Joint Special Operations Command
- **Growth Signals**: Accepted into Y Combinator; first prototype (Hailstorm-Ground) successfully flown; letters of support for a $3M SBIR grant; inbound requests for additional use cases; hiring multiple engineering roles.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Modularity**: Standardized, interchangeable components decouple production from single bottlenecks, enabling surge manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
- **Cost advantage**: Interceptors are designed to be “right-sized” to the threat, drastically reducing per-unit cost compared to traditional “exquisite” interceptors (e.g., THAAD, GMD).
- **Unique kill mechanism**: Large particle cloud increases probability of intercept without requiring precise hit-to-kill, reducing sensor and actuator costs.
- **Incremental path**: Starting with ground-based interceptors before scaling to space-based systems, allowing technology maturation and customer validation.

## Strategic Focus
- Near-term: Deliver ground-based interceptors to fill the “missing middle” threat band (Group 4 UAS to MRBMs) and secure SBIR/IRAD contracts.
- Medium-term: Deploy space-based interceptors as part of the U.S. “Golden Dome” missile defense architecture.
- Continuous improvement: Open architecture to integrate new technologies without redesigning the entire platform.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven**: Direct impact on national security and countering hypersonic threats.
- **Early-stage startup**: Opportunity to shape the company’s technology and culture from the ground up.
- **Engineering focus**: Roles span mechanical, electrical, avionics, propulsion, GNC, simulation, and sensing.
- **Compensation & equity**: Competitive salaries ($100k–$160k for engineers) plus equity grants.
- **Location**: El Segundo, CA — a growing aerospace startup hub near LA Air Force Base and Space Force facilities.
- **Work environment**: Likely on-site/hybrid (El Segundo office); YC alumni culture with fast iteration and hands-on testing (e.g., Mojave flight tests).

## Sources
1. [wardstone.space](https://wardstone.space/)
2. [wardstone.space/careers](https://wardstone.space/careers)
3. [wardstone.space/ourstory](https://wardstone.space/ourstory)
4. [spacenews.com](https://spacenews.com/startup-bets-on-new-approach-to-space-based-missile-defense/)
5. [ycombinator.com](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/wardstone)

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