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Wardstone (YC F25) · 1 month ago

Propulsion & High Energy Systems Engineer

San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Mid Level

$100K/yr - $160K/yr

Wardstone is a pioneering company focused on advanced propulsion technologies, and they are seeking a Propulsion and High-Energy Systems Engineer. The role involves designing and developing impulse-generation systems for their product, Hailstorm, while collaborating with a team of engineers to ensure high performance and safety in propulsion systems.

AerospaceMilitaryNational Security

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

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

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

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

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

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

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

Qualification

Propulsion designCombustion modelingHigh-pressure systemsCFD simulationMATLAB/PythonHands-on testingTeam collaborationProblem-solving

Required

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

Preferred

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

Company

Wardstone (YC F25)

Wardstone is a space defense-tech company developing next-generation capabilities to protect the United States and its allies from missiles and other space-based threats.

Founded in 2025