New Graduate Engineer, Propulsion (Raptor)

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a New Graduate Propulsion Engineer to join the Raptor team, working on advanced rocket engines for Starship. This role involves designing and developing rocket engines, performing analyses, and collaborating with various teams to drive innovations in propulsion systems. Candidates should have a strong engineering foundation and be graduating in 2026. This position offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including health coverage and paid leave.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics.
• 1+ years of mechanical/fluids engineering experience.
• Graduating in spring, summer, or fall of 2026.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and development of rocket engines.
• Perform hand calculations and FEA on designs.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

Skills

Data-driven decision-making

Mechanical engineering

Fluids engineering

Engineering fundamentals

Rapid problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

NEW GRADUATE PROPULSION ENGINEER, RAPTOR

Join the forefront of space exploration at SpaceX as a member of the Raptor team – the worlds most advanced rocket engine powering Starship’s journey in making humanity multiplanetary. If you’re eager to tackle real-world challenges in propulsion systems, from mechanical design and analysis to manufacturing and testing – this is your opportunity to help build the worlds most powerful rocket engine with an emphasis on efficiency and reusability. Bring your innovative mindset and strong fundamentals in engineering principles to drive the boundaries of what’s possible.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Expect a dynamic role doing what you’re best at. Our team is building high performance flight hardware, a high-volume rocket engine production line, and a propulsion system that can rapidly and reliably power our rockets. Whatever your skill set, you’ll be aligned to the part of the program you’re most effectively able to contribute to.
• Own the design and development of next generation rocket engines, test stands, and production lines.
• Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs.
• Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure hardware integrates with all Raptor systems and supports necessary mission operations.
• Own large business outcomes and experience a rate of personal and professional growth that is unmatched literally anywhere else.
• Get a front row seat to witness an impossible idea manifest in real life. The next few years will be incredibly dynamic as we transition from the challenge of building hardware to actually flying reusable rockets to orbit.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ years of mechanical and/or fluids engineering experience via project team, research, internships, and/or professional experience.
• Graduating in the spring of 2026, summer of 2026 or Fall of 2026.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions.
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information. Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals.
• Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints.
• Excelled in ultra-competitive environments. You’ve nailed a podium finish in engineering, math, or science competitions, achieved scores in the top percentile of scholastic or standardized tests, or demonstrated other incredible feats of intellectual achievement.
• Experience building hardware or have a passion for contributing to a work product that operates in the real world.
• Succeeded in multiple endeavors at once. Maybe you worked through college, were a student athlete, or demonstrated strong work or academic performance in multiple fields.
• Demonstrated rapid growth. You’ve held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career.
• Demonstrated resilience and the ability to overcome failure or extreme odds. Many critics would say that our goals are impossible but this isn’t the first time we’ve proven that highly improbable goals like reusable rockets can become possible.
• Success in academics at a rigorous and highly regarded university: minimum GPA 3.5/4.0 or higher, standardized test scores minimum 95th percentile, merit-based scholarship recipient.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

Propulsion Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

EEO STATEMENT

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s affirmative action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].