Fluids Engineer

Stanford Climate Ventures; El Segundo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

General Galactic Technologies Corporation seeks a Fluids Engineer to design and analyze critical fluids systems for spacecraft vehicles, propulsion, and ground test hardware. You will own system architecture, P&IDs, and data-driven decisions while collaborating across disciplines.

The role requires hands-on experience with pressurized fluid systems, cryogenic handling, and startup‑like pace, offering growth as the company expands its product suite and mission obligations.

Qualifications

• BS in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of experience designing, analyzing, building, or testing fluid, propulsion, thermal, mechanical, or cryogenic systems.
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, compressible flow, mechanical design, and structural load paths.
• First-principles approach to problem solving even with incomplete or partial information.
• Hands-on experience architecting pressurized fluid systems, including tanks, valves, regulators, tubing, fittings, manifolds, seals, instrumentation, relief devices, and ground support equipment.
• Ability to perform practical engineering analysis spanning hand calculations, spreadsheets, Python, MATLAB, CAD, FEA, and CFD.
• Strong mechanical design skills, including CAD, drawing creation, tolerancing, material selection, manufacturability, assembly, and testability.
• Understanding of high-pressure systems, hazardous fluids, oxygen compatibility, hydrogen systems, leak testing, cleanliness, and safe test operations.
• Experience in a fast-paced startup environment or similar, with high agency, strong ownership, and willingness to work hands-on across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Own fluid system architecture, P&IDs, schematics, component sizing, and integration for spacecraft vehicles, propulsion systems, ground test hardware, and all associated hardware from engines to pumps and more
• Support cryogenic fluid system development, including storage, transfer, thermal isolation, boiloff management, conditioning, chilldown, and integration with spacecraft or propulsion systems
• Develop and maintain simulations, calculations, and models to guide design decisions
• Perform fluid and thermal analyses, including pressurization, transient system behavior, heat transfer, boiloff, and more
• Create drawings, interface definitions, assembly procedures, test procedures, and engineering documentation for fluid and propulsion hardwarePlanning, execute, and troubleshoot testing of fluid and propulsion systems.
• Lead system safety assessments and hazard controls for fluid and propulsion systems

Skills

Fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Mechanical design

Cryogenics

Propulsion systems

First-principles problem solving

Python

MATLAB

CAD

FEA

CFD

Test procedures

Hazard analysis

Education

BS in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, or a related technical field

Tools

CAD

Python

MATLAB

CFD

FEA

Job description

About General Galactic

General Galactic designs, builds, and flies advanced spacecraft that redefine what’s possible beyond Earth. Led by former SpaceX, Varda, Impulse, and Relativity engineers, our vision is to dominate cislunar space and build the railway to Mars – expanding access to high-energy orbits and enabling the next generation of missions along the way. Based in Los Angeles, California, we’re leveraging our paradigm-shifting water-based technology to reshape the space domain for good.

Job Description

As a Fluids Engineer, you will work closely with a focused technical team to design and analyze critical fluids systems for our product suite, including Seldon and Dreadnought spacecraft vehicles, Genesis propulsion systems, and more. You will have extreme ownership over your work, move quickly, and operate with high agency. As we grow, there will be opportunities to expand your role with the company.

This is a hands-on engineering role for someone with experience using fundamentals in fluids, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanical design, cryogenics, and propulsion systems to design and analyze hardware. You will have the opportunity to own vehicle, engine, and ground fluid systems. You should be comfortable moving between first-principles analysis, detailed mechanical design, hardware build, test operations, and post-test data review.

Responsibilities may include:

• Own fluid system architecture, P&IDs, schematics, component sizing, and integration for spacecraft vehicles, propulsion systems, ground test hardware, and all associated hardware from engines to pumps and more
• Support cryogenic fluid system development, including storage, transfer, thermal isolation, boiloff management, conditioning, chilldown, and integration with spacecraft or propulsion systems
• Develop and maintain simulations, calculations, and models to guide design decisions
• Perform fluid and thermal analyses, including pressurization, transient system behavior, heat transfer, boiloff, and more
• Create drawings, interface definitions, assembly procedures, test procedures, and engineering documentation for fluid and propulsion hardwarePlan, execute, and troubleshoot testing of fluid and propulsion systems.
• Lead system safety assessments and hazard controls for fluid and propulsion systems

Requirements

Successful applicants should have most of the following:

• BS in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, or a related technical field
• 2+ years of experience designing, analyzing, building, or testing fluid, propulsion, thermal, mechanical, or cryogenic systems
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, compressible flow, mechanical design, and structural load paths
• First-principles approach to problem solving even with incomplete or partial information
• Hands-on experience architecting pressurized fluid systems, including tanks, valves, regulators, tubing, fittings, manifolds, seals, instrumentation, relief devices, and ground support equipment
• Ability to perform practical engineering analysis spanning hand calculations, spreadsheets, Python, MATLAB, CAD, FEA, and CFD
• Strong mechanical design skills, including CAD, drawing creation, tolerancing, material selection, manufacturability, assembly, and testability
• Understanding of high-pressure systems, hazardous fluids, oxygen compatibility, hydrogen systems, leak testing, cleanliness, and safe test operations
• Experience in a fast-paced startup environment or similar, with high agency, strong ownership, and willingness to work hands-on across disciplines

Your salary and incentives will be determined individually on the basis of the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Benefits include medical/vision/dental/PTO/401k/stock options, and more!

This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

General Galactic Technologies Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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