About the role
Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it. OUR MISSION True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground. OUR VALUES Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity. What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results. It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together. YOUR MISSION As a Staff Engine Performance Analyst at True Anomaly, you will be the analytical backbone of our propulsion development program s . You will build high-fidelity models of thruster systems — from propellant feed lines through combustion and nozzle expansion — and work hand-in-hand with thruster designers to optimize hardware before it's ever built. Your expertise in engine balance modeling, injector design and sizing, and combustion stability will directly determine the performance and reliability of the next generation of in-space propulsion systems. This is a rare opportunity to do foundational analytical work on hardware that will operate in the most unforgiving environment imaginable.
RESPONSIBILITIES Own engine balance and cycle modeling: Develop and maintain integrated 1D engine/thruster cycle models in ROCETS, Sinda/Fluint, or equivalent tools to predict system-level performance, identify design sensitivities, and support architecture trade studies from concept through flight. Lead injector analysis and sizing: Apply first-principles and empirical methods to size injector elements, predict atomization and mixing efficiency, and validate designs against performance targets. Translate model outputs into actionable design guidance for hardware engineers. Assess and mitigate combustion instability: Perform stability assessments using analytical and numerical methods — including acoustic mode analysis, Rayleigh criterion evaluation, and sensitivity studies — and recommend design mitigations such as acoustic cavities, baffle configurations, and injector pattern modifications. Apply CFD to combustion dynamics: Leverage CFD tools (Ansys Fluent, Reacting Flow, or equivalent) to characterize combustion dynamics, flame structure, mixing efficiency, and hot-gas-side heat flux distributions, feeding results back into design and stability assessments. Develop thrust chamber thermal-fluid models: Build conjugate heat transfer and regenerative cooling models to predict wall temperatures, heat flux profiles, and coolant pressure drop, ensuring hardware margin across the operating envelope. Partner with designers and suppliers: Work directly with thruster designers and suppliers to interpret test data, validate models against hot-fire results, and close the loop between analysis and hardware performance. Build lightweight design tools: Create accessible tools and parametric models that allow hardware responsible engineers to quickly size components and evaluate performance without requiring deep analysis expertise. Define and execute evolutionary analysis plans: Structure the analysis program to mature in lock-step with hardware development and testing — increasing fidelity as data becomes available and design decisions demand it. Establish analytical best practices: Define processes for in-depth analysis, second-set-of-eyes reviews, and parameter input standards. Build a culture of analytical rigor across the propulsion team. Mentor and cross-train: Build analytical capability within the broader propulsion team, including cross-training hardware responsible engineers on core analysis methods and tools.
