Propulsion Mechanical Engineer - Electric Pumps & Tests

Hop Aero; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Healthcare

Mentorship with founders

Technical ownership

Career growth

Job summary

Hop Aero in Orange, CA is hiring a Propulsion Mechanical Engineer to own electric propellant pumps and high-speed rotating machinery for our rocket propulsion systems. You will guide from architecture to test, coordinating with propulsion, fluids, avionics, manufacturing, software, and test teams.

This hands-on role requires practical skills across design, analysis, and manufacturing, with frequent collaboration with machine shops and suppliers at our California shop.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of experience in centrifugal pumps or turbomachinery.
• Ability to design, build, and test rotating mechanical hardware from CAD to test.
• Experience working with machine shops, vendors, and manufacturing suppliers.
• Willingness to be hands-on in a small, fast-moving hardware organization.

Responsibilities

• Own electric-pump development from architecture through design, manufacturing, integration, and test.
• Design pump components including impellers, inducers, volutes, housings, shafts, bearings, and seals.
• Define mechanical, fluid, electrical, and software interfaces with engine and vehicle teams.
• Plan, instrument, and execute electric-pump development testing.
• Analyze pressure, flow, vibration, temperature, current, and speed data to diagnose hardware performance.

Skills

Centrifugal pumps

Rotating equipment

Turbomachinery

CAD design

Tools

CAD

Job description

Hop Aero in Orange, CA is hiring a Propulsion Mechanical Engineer to own electric propellant pumps and high-speed rotating machinery for our rocket propulsion systems. You will guide from architecture to test, coordinating with propulsion, fluids, avionics, manufacturing, software, and test teams.

This hands-on role requires practical skills across design, analysis, and manufacturing, with frequent collaboration with machine shops and suppliers at our California shop.