---
title: 'Propulsion Engineering Lead at AscendArc'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-engineering-lead-ascendarc-beaverton-pn99802wf8zq'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Propulsion Engineering Lead at AscendArc

- **Company:** AscendArc
- **Location:** Beaverton
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-07-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/ascendarc/am9icG9zdDpp5IFR67xqa7uPPaTppWDr

## Job description

Come join us in shaping the future! Get in on the ground floor as an early member of our Bus & Electronics team as a Propulsion Engineering Lead developing a revolutionary satellite communications system. Connect the vision to the hardware, build it, test it and fly it.

AscendArc is a startup founded to revolutionize the satellite communications industry. We are looking for doers who want to work in a ground-breaking and fast-paced environment. Our success will depend on your energy, skill, and creativity.

## Responsibilities

As Propulsion Engineering Lead you are accountable for the end-to-end performance of the propulsion subsystem — from architecture through test to demonstrated in-orbit results. You will own the electric propulsion architecture for a full-EP GEO spacecraft, including the propellant feed system, thruster integration (Hall-effect class), and PPU integration, and you will drive propulsion supplier selection and the release of long-lead propulsion procurement. Beyond the design, you own the verification of that design: you will define the propulsion test requirements, specify the test system and ground support equipment needed to execute them, oversee test execution at supplier and system level, and own the analysis and acceptance of the test results. You will own the EOR/station-keeping delta-V strategy and the propulsion analyses that support it, and you will carry that ownership through to orbit — assessing in-orbit propulsion performance against predictions and closing the loop back to the models. You will work closely with Structures (propulsion mechanical), GNC, Power, Systems, and the AIT and mission operations teams. This is a named end-to-end performance role on the critical path to releasing procurement and closing the design.

## Qualifications

- 8+ years of spacecraft propulsion experience and B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
- Direct experience with electric propulsion (Hall-effect or gridded ion), xenon feed systems, and PPU integration
- Demonstrated ownership of propulsion verification — defining test requirements, specifying test systems/GSE, and analyzing and accepting test results
- Familiarity with EOR and station-keeping delta-V analysis for GEO missions, and with correlating in-orbit propulsion performance against predictions
- Experience driving propulsion supplier selection and procurement of long-lead propulsion hardware
- Working knowledge of pressure-vessel (COPV) and propulsion safety considerations

Base Salary The base salary range for this position is $170,000-200,000/year. When determining an individual’s compensation, we consider several factors including skillset, experience, job scope, and current market data, so pay for this role may vary from the amounts listed.

Legal Eligibility to Work Due to U.S. export control regulations, this position is only open to “U.S. persons.” That means you must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or have refugee/asylee status. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applicants on temporary work visas (such as H-1B, TN, O-1, etc.) for this role.

## Equal Employment Opportunity

AscendArc is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor or legally protected status.

## About AscendArc

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: AscendArc is revolutionizing satellite communications by designing and manufacturing low-cost, high-bandwidth, volume-produced small geostationary (GEO) satellites for military and commercial customers.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed Stage)
- **Headquarters**: Beaverton, Oregon, United States
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Chris McLain

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Satellite Telecommunications / Space Technology
- **Target Customers**: Military/Defense organizations and commercial telecommunications providers (B2B, Government)
- **Mission/Purpose**: To fundamentally change the economics of the satellite communications industry by making geostationary satellites faster to build, easier to scale, and dramatically more cost-effective — applying the scalability and production efficiency of LEO manufacturing to high-performance GEO satellites [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Products & Services
- **Small Geostationary Satellites**: Volume-produced, small GEO satellites that deliver high bandwidth at a fraction of the cost of traditional GEO satellites. They are highly reconfigurable and highly maneuverable, designed for rapid deployment and volume production [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $7.75M across multiple rounds [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc).
- **Funding History**:
  - Pre-Seed Round (Jan 2024): $505,000
  - Seed Round (Mar 2025): $3.5M from 6 investors
  - Total raised: $7.75M (conflicting reports show $4M on some sources, $7.75M on others) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
- **Notable Investors**: Hunter Communications, Everywhere Ventures, Portland Seed Fund, Thermo Capital Partners, Seraphim Space [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew 80% YoY, now at 22 employees [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
  - LinkedIn followers grew 94.1% annually [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
  - Filed at least 1 patent related to stackable satellite design and antenna technology [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
  - Active job postings for senior engineering roles (Avionics, Thermal, Test, Structures) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Cost Disruption**: Applying high-volume, low-cost manufacturing principles from LEO satellites to the GEO market, traditionally dominated by expensive, bespoke spacecraft.
- **Speed to Market**: Designed for rapid deployment compared to traditional GEO satellite development cycles (years vs. decades).
- **Reconfigurability & Maneuverability**: Satellites are designed to be highly adaptable in orbit, serving evolving military and commercial needs.
- **Small Team Agility**: A lean, driven team of ~22 people with a "cradle-to-grave" design culture where every person has real ownership [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling Production**: Moving from design to volume manufacturing of small GEO satellites.
- **Talent Acquisition**: Actively hiring senior engineering talent across mechanical, thermal, test, and avionics disciplines to support growth [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc).
- **Commercial & Military Expansion**: Targeting both government/defense contracts and commercial telecom applications for secure, resilient connectivity [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/).

## Why Work Here
- **Hands-On, High-Ownership Culture**: "Cradle-to-grave" design culture where ideas are built, tested, and launched — not just sketched on paper. Every voice shapes the mission [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Hybrid & Remote Flexibility**: Most roles follow a hybrid schedule (3 days onsite in Beaverton, OR; 2 days remote). Some roles are fully remote within the US depending on position [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Benefits**:
  - Competitive salary and equity [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee and family [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - 3 weeks paid vacation to start, with additional time for tenured employees, plus 11 paid holidays [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
  - 401(k) plan [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
- **Fast-Paced, Groundbreaking Work**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge space technology in a startup environment that is lean, driven, and collaborative [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers).
- **Office Location**: Beaverton, Oregon — part of the Portland metro area's growing aerospace and tech ecosystem.

## Sources
1. [ascendarc.com](https://www.ascendarc.com/)
2. [ascendarc.com/careers](https://www.ascendarc.com/careers)
3. [linkedin.com/company/ascendarc](https://linkedin.com/company/ascendarc)
4. [cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/ascendarc)
5. [builtin.com/company/ascendarc-1](https://builtin.com/company/ascendarc-1)

## Other roles at AscendArc

- [Senior/Principal Thermal Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-thermal-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-78r3q5ngpyfd) — Beaverton
- [Executive Assistant & Office Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-office-manager-ascendarc-beaverton-jgbbscxwqtn8) — Beaverton
- [Supply Chain Manager/Director - Aerospace](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-manager-director-aerospace-ascendarc-beaverton-cz5x48rfp945) — Beaverton
- [Senior RF Board Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-rf-board-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-bhc2ednb1qng) — Beaverton
- [System Integration and Test Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/system-integration-and-test-lead-ascendarc-beaverton-man25wyp4y02) — Beaverton
- [Senior/Lead Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-lead-mechanical-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-j17f7ewzay7a) — Beaverton
- [Senior/Staff Test Engineer - Structures and Mechanisms](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-staff-test-engineer-structures-and-mechanisms-ascendarc-beaverton-5ywyfz5x79hz) — Beaverton
- [Senior Avionics Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-avionics-mechanical-design-engineer-ascendarc-beaverton-19mjvbrxrp5e) — Beaverton
- [Composite Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/composite-technician-ascendarc-beaverton-0aayb9nagjva) — Beaverton