Senior Components Engineer (Valves & Actuators)

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.

Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.

• Stoke’s Valves and Actuators team is responsible for designing, developing, testing and producing various in-house and purchased valves and actuators for use on our launch vehicle, Nova. As a team, we strive to make designs that are both reliable and easily manufacturable, a goal supported by Stoke's commitment to developing in-house valve and actuator manufacturing for rapid iteration and self-sustainability. Our components are used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to engine flow control valves, large propellant valves, high-pressure gas valves, throttle valve actuators, and engine gimbal TVC actuators.
• As a Sr. Valves and Actuators Engineer, you will be responsible for defining, designing, manufacturing, testing, and qualifying various valve designs for both the stages and engines. As a responsible engineer, you will be owner of the entire process for your designs. As part of a small, well-supported team, you will have access to the resources you need to get the job done right while simultaneously boosting your skills at a pace that can’t be matched in most other roles. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.

Responsibilities

Collect design requirements from multidisciplinary teams, and use these to create concepts for valves and actuators

Design components for use on our Nova launch vehicle, model parts using Siemens NX CAD software

Perform structural analysis on components using hand calcs and FEA software

Perform fluids analysis using hand calcs and CFD software

Create manufacturing planning for building components in a high-rate production environment. Be involved in valve and actuator builds on the production floor

Create procedures and execute testing for valves and actuators, including acceptance testing, development testing, and qualification

Coordinate directly with suppliers to procure parts

Incorporate design for manufacturing best practices into designs to improve production efficiency

Work with vehicle fluids, engines, and GNC teams to develop CONOPs and troubleshoot hardware issues on the vehicle

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or similar

5+ years of experience in design, build, and testing of valves for aerospace or industrial applications

Hands on experience performing fabrication and assembly of components

Exceptional command of fundamentals, including compressible flow, thermodynamics, structures, control systems, cryogenics, and instrumentation

Understanding of revision-controlled P&ID’s

Understanding of aerospace standard fasteners, seals, tubing, fittings, and commercial off the shelf hardware

Excellent written and verbal communication

Preferred Qualifications

Proficiency with instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, load cells, accelerometers, and flow meters

Proficiency with fluid analysis tools (Siemens AMESim, REFPROP, Excel, Matlab, or equivalent)

Proficiency in GD&T, tolerance stackups, and material selection

Extensive experience with CAD tools and configuration management (Siemens NX and Teamcenter preferred)

Benefits

Equity – We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees.

Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance

Company-paid life and disability insurance

401(k) plan with employer match

4 weeks’ Paid Time Off

Holidays – 10 days (including an end-of-year closure)

Paid Family/Parental Leave

On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)

Dog friendly offices!

• Compensation
• Target Levels:

Level 4 Range: $151,305 - $252,105

Level 5 Range: $176,505 - $327,810

• Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis.
• Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

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ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact [email protected] . Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here .

E-Verify

Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here .