Wardstone (YC F25) · 1 month ago
Propulsion & High Energy Systems Engineer
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
$100K/yr - $160K/yrWardstone 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
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
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$0.5MKey Investors
Y Combinator
2025-12-03Pre Seed· $0.5M
Leadership Team
Sebastian Fischer
Chief Executive Officer
Tobias Fischer
Chief Technical Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase