Propulsion Engineer: Combustor Systems for Flight

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation & holidays

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Propulsion Engineer to own combustion devices for Raptors, guiding combustor hardware from concept to flight. You will drive design changes for reliability, safety, and performance, coordinating with teams across the organization to deliver hardware that meets stringent engine requirements.

The role requires hands‑on experience with rocket propulsion hardware, high‑pressure systems, and robust data analysis to iterate designs and support flight operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or astronautical engineering.
• 1+ years of experience working with rocket or jet engine hardware or high‑pressure fluid systems in a design, analysis, or experimental capacity.
• Master’s degree or higher in mechanical, aerospace, or aeronautical/astronautical engineering preferred.
• 3+ years of experience with jet or rocket engines or other high‑pressure fluid systems.
• Proficiency in flow, combustion, acoustics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, thermochemistry, mechanics, and materials.

Responsibilities

• Own engine combustor hardware design, production, and flight operations.
• Drive design changes for reliability, simplification, and performance.
• Lead combustor design from concept through testing and production.
• Coordinate peers and collaborate with cross‑team engineers to meet requirements.
• Develop test requirements and analyze data to improve hardware and designs.
• Make go/no‑go decisions on hardware performance in operation.

Skills

Jet/rocket engines

High-Pressure systems

Python MATLAB C/C++

Flow physics

Thermodynamics/heat transfer

Data-driven decision making

Education

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

Master’s degree or higher in mechanical, aerospace, or aeronautical/astronautical engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Fluent

Star-CCM+

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Propulsion Engineer to own combustion devices for Raptors, guiding combustor hardware from concept to flight. You will drive design changes for reliability, safety, and performance, coordinating with teams across the organization to deliver hardware that meets stringent engine requirements.

The role requires hands‑on experience with rocket propulsion hardware, high‑pressure systems, and robust data analysis to iterate designs and support flight operations.