Concept Development Engineer

About X-Bow:

X-Bow Systems is a cutting-edge aerospace technology company focused on revolutionizing solid propellant propulsion systems for space exploration and defense applications. Our team of innovative engineers and scientists is committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in rocket propulsion and manufacturing. 

About the Role:

X-Bow is hiring a Concept Development Engineer to lead early-phase design and analysis for solid rocket motor and related vehicle systems. This role sits at the forefront of the program lifecycle, where technical judgment, creativity, speed, and systems-level thinking directly influence customer decisions, proposals, and program baselines.

You will translate mission and customer needs into credible technical concepts, trade studies, preliminary designs, and proposal content that help shape program direction. Using industry-standard tools, internal codes, engineering fundamentals, and sound engineering judgment, you will develop concepts quickly and accurately to guide customer conversations, evaluate opportunities, and anticipate future program challenges.

This is a high-impact role on a small, fast-moving team. You will work cross-functionally with X-Bow's design, analysis, manufacturing, business development, and program teams to ensure early concepts are technically sound, executable, and aligned with program objectives.

Success in this role requires a fundamental understanding of propulsion systems and the ability to balance mission requirements, customer priorities, performance, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and technical risk in early-phase SRM concept design. The right candidate thinks at the system level while understanding the critical details that drive design and can mature a clean-sheet concept to preliminary design review level of fidelity.

What You'll Do:

• Develop concept-level designs and analyses for solid rocket motor and vehicle systems across tactical, strategic, suborbital, and orbital applications.
• Lead and support trade studies spanning propulsion, trajectory, structures, aerodynamics, manufacturing, performance, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Translate customer and mission requirements into technical architectures, assumptions, and preliminary design approaches.
• Produce technical content for proposals, white papers, customer briefings, and internal engineering reviews.
• Identify key design drivers, technical risks, and open questions early enough to influence decisions.
• Collaborate with design, analysis, manufacturing, business development, and program teams to ensure concepts are executable.
• Contribute to internal engineering tools, workflows, and concept development methods.

Required Qualifications:

Relevant Experience: 5 years of relevant experience in propulsion, missile systems, launch vehicles, or related aerospace applications.

Solid Rocket Motor Design/Analysis: Experience with solid rocket motor design or analysis, including motor case, grain, nozzle, insulation, material selection, operating environment, and performance.

Internal Ballistics: Working knowledge of internal ballistics fundamentals and their relationship to motor sizing, performance, pressure-time behavior, and design trades.

Systems Engineering: Ability to translate customer and mission needs into requirements, shape mission architectures, and lead multidisciplinary trade studies to support executable concepts and establish program baselines.

CAD: Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks, NX, Creo or equivalent.

Communication: Ability to clearly communicate complex engineering concepts, assumptions, risks, and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

Internal Ballistics Tools: Experience with industry-standard or internally developed ballistic performance codes.

Trajectory Analysis: Experience developing or analyzing tactical, ballistic, suborbital, or orbital trajectories, including 3DoF or 6DoF analysis; experience with POST2, POST3D, TAOS, or equivalent tools.

Weights & Sizing: Experience developing launch vehicle sizing, mass properties, or weights estimates for concept or preliminary design.

Programming: Working knowledge of MATLAB, Python, and/or FORTRAN or equivalent.

Security Clearance: Active DoD security clearance or eligibility to obtain one.

Education:

Bachelor's Degree or higher in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.

Location Requirements:

Primary work will be performed in Huntsville, AL. Other work locations considered: Salt Lake City, UT, Austin, TX, Albuquerque, NM. This job can be worked remotely with the appropriate work ethic and discipline. Additional travel may be required if remote.