Senior Propulsion Engineer - Raptor Combustion Devices

Starlink; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Sr. Propulsion Engineer focused on Raptor combustion devices to own combustor hardware from concept through flight operations.

You will drive design changes, test campaigns, and data-driven decisions for the most advanced engine on the largest launch vehicle in history. The role requires a mechanical/ aerospace background, 4+ years in propulsion hardware, and strong collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or astronautical engineering.
• 4+ years of experience working with rocket or jet engine hardware or high-pressure fluid systems in a design, analysis, or experimental capacity.

Responsibilities

• Responsible engineer for engine combustor hardware, owning the success of design and requirements, delivery of production hardware at target throughput rates, and reliable operating performance at the integrated engine and vehicle level.
• Identify, organize, and drive design changes related to department priorities such as reliability, simplification, and performance.
• Own the development of combustor design and hardware from concept through testing and production while actively managing the existing fleet of hardware in operation.
• Coordinate a team of peers through informal leadership and self-directed program organization to achieve goals. Assign clear responsibilities and hold teammates accountable for execution. Collaborate with engineers from other teams to design and develop hardware that meets system and high-level engine requirements.
• Develop test requirements and participate in test operations early in the part life cycle to develop hardware and processes to accept engines for flight. Own anomaly reviews for defective hardware from comprehensive data review to complete hardware teardown.
• Perform analysis on data from test and flight operations of the hardware. Iterate the results from data into improved designs, as well as make critical go/no-go calls on hardware performance in operation.

Skills

Combustor development

Propulsion hardware

Design for testing

Data analysis

Leadership & coordination

Python/MATLAB/C/C++

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or astronautical engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

SolidWorks

Ansys/ Fluent

Job description

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Sr. Propulsion Engineer focused on Raptor combustion devices to own combustor hardware from concept through flight operations.

You will drive design changes, test campaigns, and data-driven decisions for the most advanced engine on the largest launch vehicle in history. The role requires a mechanical/ aerospace background, 4+ years in propulsion hardware, and strong collaboration across teams.