Propulsion Hardware Engineer – Merlin (Flight & Test)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Merlin Propulsion Engineer to own engine hardware and software from build through tests, flight, and reflight. You will drive design, process, and operational changes to improve Merlin reliability and producibility while supporting scaling of production and flight rate.

You will work hands‑on with hardware, participate in design reviews, brief customers, and lead anomaly investigations, delivering flight‑ready engines and robust verification through

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ years of hands-on fabrication, assembly, and/or testing experience.
• 1+ years of CAD design experience for parts/assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Responsible Engineer for a Merlin engine component or system.
• Lead Merlin development and qualification test campaigns for hardware improvements or root‑cause investigations.
• Design, analyze, produce, and operate Merlin propulsion hardware and systems across development and flight operations.
• Partner with engineers and technicians across production, test, launch, avionics, GNC, software, mission management, and flight reliability to deliver flight‑ready engines.
• Resolve day‑to‑day production, test, and launch issues by hands‑on work with hardware.
• Brief customers on hardware changes and issues as a technical authority for mission success.

Skills

Python/Matlab

Technical communication

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physics

Master's in Mechanical/Aeronautical (preferred)

Tools

Siemens NX

ANSYS Fluent

CAD tooling

DFMA

Job description

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Merlin Propulsion Engineer to own engine hardware and software from build through tests, flight, and reflight. You will drive design, process, and operational changes to improve Merlin reliability and producibility while supporting scaling of production and flight rate.

You will work hands‑on with hardware, participate in design reviews, brief customers, and lead anomaly investigations, delivering flight‑ready engines and robust verification through