Propulsion Engineer - Liquid Rocket Engines

Intuitive Machines, LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Machines, LLC based in Houston, TX is seeking a Propulsion Engineer specializing in liquid rocket engines. The role involves designing and analyzing propulsion hardware, developing CAD models, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams throughout the hardware development lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will hold a BS or MS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering and have experience in rocket engine design. A strong understanding of fluid mechanics and manufacturing processes is essential for success in this fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and testing liquid rocket engine components.
• Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and combustion fundamentals.
• Ability to develop engineering analyses and communicate technical recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Design components for liquid rocket engines including injectors and combustion chambers.
• Develop detailed CAD models and manufacturing documentation.
• Support hot-fire testing and investigate hardware anomalies.

Skills

Design of liquid rocket engine components

3D CAD modeling

Engineering analysis

Collaboration with engineering teams

Education

BS or MS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Creo

SolidWorks

Job description

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Propulsion Engineer - Liquid Rocket Engines

Houston, TX, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1532

Propulsion Engineer – Liquid Rocket Engines

Houston, TX

About Intuitive Machines:

Intuitive Machines is an innovative andcutting-edgespace company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With multiple NASA lunar missions in development andadditionalprivate missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting NASA, our customers, and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the Moon. Our world-class team includes experts in all aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.

About the Position:

We are seeking a Propulsion Design Engineer to support the development of next-generation liquid rocket engines and propulsion hardware. This role is primarily focused on the design, analysis, fabrication, and testing of liquid rocket engine injectors and associated combustion hardware. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing injector architectures, combustion devices, and additively manufactured engine components through rapid design-build-test iterations.

The successful candidate will work closely with propulsion analysts, thermal engineers, structures engineers, manufacturing personnel, and test engineers to develop flight and development hardware from initial concept through hot-fire testing. This is a hands-on engineering role requiring deep technical engagement with hardware design, analysis, fabrication, and test execution.

Responsibilities:

• Design liquid rocket engine components including injectors, combustion chambers, manifolds, feed system hardware, and associated propulsion components.
• Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, drawings, and manufacturing documentation
• Perform engineering analyses supporting propulsion hardware design, including structural, thermal, fluid, and manufacturability assessments.
• Develop propulsion hardware optimized for additive manufacturing processes, including complex internal flow features, integrated manifolds, cooling circuits, design-for-additive-manufacturing considerations, and post-processing requirements.
• Work closely with internal machine shop, additive manufacturing, and fabrication teams to mature designs from concept to hardware.
• Support component assembly, development testing, hot-fire testing, post-test hardware evaluations, and data analysis.
• Investigate hardware anomalies and implement design improvements based on test results and lessons learned.
• Collaborate with structures, thermal, manufacturing, test, and systems engineering teams throughout the hardware development lifecycle.
• Support rapid design-build-test iterations in a fast-paced development environment.

Requirements:

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Experience designing and testing injectors or cooled combustion chambers for liquid rocket engines.
• Proficiency with Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent CAD software.
• Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and combustion fundamentals.
• Experience creating manufacturing drawings, tolerance schemes, and engineering documentation for fabricated hardware.
• Ability to develop engineering analyses and communicate technical recommendations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred / Differentiating Experience:

• Experience developing cryogenic propulsion systems or hardware.
• Experience evaluating injector performance, atomization, combustion efficiency, combustion stability, or related combustion device characteristics.
• Experience with combustion chamber heat transfer, vacuum nozzles, electric pumps or turbomachinery, internal manifolding, or feed system hardware.
• Experience with additive manufacturing of metallic aerospace hardware and design-for-additive-manufacturing (DfAM) principles.
• Experience supporting component-level or engine-level hot-fire testing.
• Experience performing CFD, thermal, structural, combustion, or multidisciplinary analyses supporting propulsion hardware development.
• Experience working closely with machine shops, additive manufacturing facilities, and propulsion test organizations.
• Experience developing hardware for aerospace, launch vehicle, spacecraft, or defense applications.

US EEO Statement:

Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.