Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer - Chamber/Nozzle (Raptor)

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Discretionary bonuses

Medical, vision, dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking an engineer to design, implement, and scale manufacturing processes for Raptor thrust chamber and nozzle extensions. You will work to increase throughput, improve dimensional accuracy, and reduce cycle times while upholding extreme quality for Starship.

The role combines propulsion engineering with manufacturing process development and data-driven production, enabling rapid iteration and high-volume production. On-site in Hawthorne, CA with some travel for launches.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering.
• 1+ years of hands-on experience with manufacturing process development for complex metallic components.
• Experience with machining, brazing, welding, forming, tube bending and structural assembly.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Understanding of test methods, data acquisition systems, and quality control.
• Design for manufacturability (DFM) expertise with a track record of taking products through development to production.
• Strong communication, organization, and ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the fabrication, processes, and assembly of Raptor thrust chamber and nozzle extension hardware.
• Develop manufacturing methods for fabrication, joining, finishing, and verification.
• Create and refine manufacturing strategies, fixtures, tooling, and workholding solutions for complex components.
• Build data pipelines capturing manufacturing telemetry for SPC, predictive analytics, and defect reduction.
• Collaborate with propulsion design, materials, production, and supply chain to convert designs into scalable processes and drive improvements.
• Maintain holistic ownership of the production line, including process consistency, quality, equipment, ergonomics, safety, and facility layouts.
• Support high-rate production and on-time delivery for launch operations.
• Own manufacturing software, documentation, simulation, version control, and process standardization.

Skills

Manufacturing process development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

SpaceX is seeking an engineer to design, implement, and scale manufacturing processes for Raptor thrust chamber and nozzle extensions. You will work to increase throughput, improve dimensional accuracy, and reduce cycle times while upholding extreme quality for Starship.

The role combines propulsion engineering with manufacturing process development and data-driven production, enabling rapid iteration and high-volume production. On-site in Hawthorne, CA with some travel for launches.