Propulsion Engineer, Valves — Raptor

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock eligibility

Long-term incentives

Comprehensive medical, vision, and 
d.

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA, seeks a Propulsion Engineer, Valves (Raptor Components), to own design, analysis, and qualification of valve assemblies for the Raptor engine. You will drive reliability, manufacturability, and integration with vehicle teams across development and flight tests.

You will lead root-cause investigations, optimize parts, and coordinate with supply chain, manufacturing, and test teams to push performance, cost efficiency, and readiness for Starship operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ years of experience designing and analyzing mechanical systems.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills; problem-solving mindset.
• Master's degree or 1+ years of professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience designing, building, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems.
• Understanding of 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.

Responsibilities

• Generate CAD drawings, analyses, specifications, and risk assessments to maximize reliability.
• Lead root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions across development, production, test, and launch.
• Develop manufacturable flow control devices with a focus on reliability and cost.
• Safely implement thorough component testing and checkouts across multiple sites.
• Set standards for rigorous component design and qualification testing as the program matures.
• Collaborate with supply chain, manufacturing, testing, and flight teams to achieve high yield and cost efficiency.
• Coordinate teammates with clear responsibilities and accountability.
• Be the chief engineer and influence system-level architecture with cost-aware decisions.

Skills

Mechanical design

Collaboration

Mechanical testing

Valves

Fluid systems

Instrumentation

Electro-mechanical devices

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics

Master's degree or 1+ years in mechanical/aerospace engineering

Job description

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA, seeks a Propulsion Engineer, Valves (Raptor Components), to own design, analysis, and qualification of valve assemblies for the Raptor engine. You will drive reliability, manufacturability, and integration with vehicle teams across development and flight tests.

You will lead root-cause investigations, optimize parts, and coordinate with supply chain, manufacturing, and test teams to push performance, cost efficiency, and readiness for Starship operations.