Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Components)

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) retirement plan

Medical, vision and dental coverage

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Components) to design and validate integrated components for the Raptor engine. You will contribute to vehicle architecture trades and lead design and flight readiness on Starship, working across engineering disciplines to ensure reliability in extreme environments.

Responsibilities include leading investigations, developing manufacturable flow control devices, and coordinating with supply chain, manufacturing, and flight teams to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ years of experience designing and analyzing mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Generate and improve CAD, engineering drawings, analysis, component specifications, and risk assessments to maximize vehicle reliability.
• Lead root cause investigations across development, production, test, integration and launch.
• Develop state-of-the-art, manufacturable, 99.99% reliable flow control devices.
• Safely implement thorough component testing and checkouts across multiple build, test, and launch sites.
• Collaborate with supply chain, manufacturing, testing, and flight teams to achieve high reliability and favorable cost.
• Inform system-level architecture with component capabilities and vulnerabilities in mind.

Skills

CAD design

Root cause analysis

Mechanical systems

Testing and troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physics

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

CAD software

Experimental testing

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.

PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR COMPONENTS)

The Raptor Components team conceptualizes, models, drafts, and supports mechanical and electro-mechanical control assemblies that run the Raptor engine. On this team, you will design and ensure success of these assemblies by combining pneumatics, mechanical, electrical, and software into integrated packages enabling streamlined manufacturing and engine operation. We design, analyze, build, test, and fly components for simplicity, manufacturability, and reliability in extreme thermal, pressure, and vibe environments. You will provide input into vehicle architecture trades and take a lead role in design and flight readiness on Starship, the vehicle that will transform Earth orbit operations, normalize space technology, and make humanity multi-planetary.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Generate and improve CAD, engineering drawings, analysis, component specifications, and risk assessments to maximize vehicle reliability.
• Spearhead root cause investigations that arise in development, production, test, integration and launch, implementing corrective actions, proactively seeking out hardware issues, and implementing solutions early.
• Develop state-of-the-art, manufacturable, 99.99% reliable flow control devices.
• Safely implement thorough component testing and checkouts across multiple build, test, and launch sites.
• Partner with supply chain, manufacturing, testing, and flight teams to achieve SpaceX’s most reliable, highest rate components, striving for high factory yield and automotive volume/cost.
• Inform system-level architecture, with component capabilities and vulnerabilities in mind, to minimize cost of payload to orbit.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ years of experience designing and analyzing mechanical systems via professional work experience, project/research-based student experience, or a combination of both.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree or 1+ years of professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience designing, building, testing and troubleshooting mechanical systems.
• Understanding of fundamental principals in fluid systems, solid mechanics, and/or electrical systems.
• Hands-on experience with fluid, gas, mechanical, high voltage, or test instrumentation and control.
• Knowledge of electro-mechanical devices, gears, actuators, motors, valves, regulators, or pumps.
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to travel. 10% travel in support of hardware testing and launch operations.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

Level 1: $100,000.00 - $117,500.00

Level 2: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00

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 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.

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 Aff… or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].