Starship Test Engineer: Hands-on Flight & Propulsion

United States Digital Space LLC; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC is seeking a Test Engineer to support Starship development and propulsion testing. You will develop and execute engine and component tests, review data, and guide technicians in fabricating test articles and stand equipment.

The role emphasizes hands-on testing, safety, and rapid problem solving, with collaboration across engineering teams to improve test stands and flight hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering or other engineering field.
• 1+ years of hands-on testing experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute tests at the engine and component level to evaluate hardware performance and survivability during the mission.
• Repeated ownership of test campaigns, including test plan creation, new system activation, test operations, data review, and test stand equipment design/fabrication.
• Provide daily direction and instruction to technicians to fabricate and integrate test articles and stand equipment.
• Develop and maintain test procedures, sequences, scripts, configuration files, and software.
• Operate and troubleshoot data acquisition and control systems, wiring, and instrumentation.
• Operate and troubleshoot fluid and mechanical systems that include cryogenic, hypergolic propellants and related hardware.
• Operate mechanical systems; test stand structures, heat exchangers, vacuum pumps, tooling, and fluid components.
• Automate repetitive test operations to increase efficiency and safety.
• Identify and characterize system pitfalls and work with design engineers to resolve anomalies.

Skills

Mechanical systems

Structural systems

Propulsion systems

Fluid systems

Flight hardware

Test operations

Hazardous systems

High-pressure systems

Instrumentation

3D modeling

Coding languages

Data analysis

Test procedures

Creative design

Technical reading

Team communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical engineering or related field

Tools

3D modeling software

Job description

United States Digital Space LLC is seeking a Test Engineer to support Starship development and propulsion testing. You will develop and execute engine and component tests, review data, and guide technicians in fabricating test articles and stand equipment.

The role emphasizes hands-on testing, safety, and rapid problem solving, with collaboration across engineering teams to improve test stands and flight hardware.