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Propellant Production Specialist

Pluto Aerospace | Lafayette, Indiana | In person
Travel required | U.S. citizenship required

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About Pluto

Pluto Aerospace builds rockets and solid rocket motors that give customers affordable, rapid access to hypersonic flight testing. We are expanding our production capability and need someone who takes ownership of making consistent, documented, reliable propellant.

The role

We are looking for someone with practical familiarity with solid propellant production who can take responsibility for daily manufacturing work.

This role combines hands-on production, equipment care, process discipline, and documentation. You will work directly with the founder to plan production, execute approved processes, identify problems, and improve repeatability as capacity grows.

Pluto moves quickly. This role requires high adaptability, initiative, and comfort with changing priorities. You will learn unfamiliar tasks and solve problems as they arise. We expect you to keep work moving, communicate obstacles early, and maintain safety and quality under pressure. When production requirements or conditions are unclear, you resolve them before proceeding.

What you will do

  • Prepare materials, equipment, tooling, and production areas for scheduled work.
  • Perform propellant mixing and associated production operations according to approved procedures.
  • Maintain complete batch records, material traceability, and process documentation.
  • Monitor production quality, identify deviations, and promptly escalate issues.
  • Maintain equipment cleanliness, readiness, and preventive maintenance records.
  • Track material inventory, storage conditions, and upcoming production needs.
  • Coordinate with the rocket team to deliver propellant and finished components when needed.
  • Help develop clear work instructions and improve production consistency.
  • Support motor assembly, inspection, and test preparation within your training and authorization.
  • Travel as needed to support production, motor testing, and launch activities.

What you bring

  • Practical experience with solid propellant mixing and production, including familiarity with controlled processes and energetic material handling.
  • Strong attention to detail and the discipline to follow procedures consistently.
  • Ability to maintain accurate records and recognize when a process or result is outside expectations.
  • Mechanical aptitude and comfort operating, cleaning, and maintaining production equipment.
  • Ability to organize work, anticipate material and equipment needs, and communicate constraints early.
  • Extreme ownership: you take responsibility for preparation, execution, documentation, and follow-through.
  • Sound judgment, including the willingness to stop work and raise a concern when conditions are unclear or outside approved limits.
  • Ability to work in person in Lafayette, Indiana.
  • Availability for travel, including multiday trips and occasional weekend test or launch operations.
  • U.S. citizenship.

Experience with composite propellants, batch manufacturing, quality systems, and motor testing is especially valuable. Relevant experience may come from industry, research, military service, or substantial hands-on rocketry work.

What success looks like

Production is planned, equipment is ready, and every batch is traceable. Problems are identified early. The rocket team can rely on consistent hardware and clear records, and production becomes more repeatable as we grow.

To apply

Submit your résumé and a brief description of your relevant production experience. Explain the processes and equipment you have worked with, your level of responsibility, and an example of a production problem you helped resolve. Do not include confidential formulations or proprietary information.

Apply by email

Send your application to hello@plutoaerospace.com.