Turbomachinery Engineer (Raptor)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 117,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP (SpaceX) is seeking a Turbomachinery Engineer to design and develop next-generation turbopumps for Raptor engines. This role requires strong engineering skills and collaborative abilities to take designs from concept to flight hardware, ensuring performance and manufacturability.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in engineering, experience with turbomachinery, and proficiency in CAD software.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in turbomachinery design, including internships.
• Strong understanding of aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of turbopumps for Raptor rocket engines.
• Interface with production to translate designs into hardware.
• Conduct hydrodynamic and mechanical analysis of turbomachinery.

Skills

Turbomachinery design

Hydrodynamic sizing

Collaboration with manufacturing

Model development

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in aerospace or related field

Tools

Siemens NX (Unigraphics)

Ansys (CFX, Mechanical, Thermal)

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

TURBOMACHINERY ENGINEER (RAPTOR)

SpaceX is seeking a highly motivated Turbomachinery Engineer to join our team in designing and developing the next generation of turbopumps for Raptor. Lead the design, development and qualification of rocket turbopumps for multiple applications at SpaceX, taking the designs from initial concept to flight. Conduct coupled aerodynamic/hydrodynamic and mechanical design and demonstrate a broad turbomachinery system understanding as well as the ability to work with a wider team of specialists in the various sub systems. Ensure that turbomachinery solutions are developed to meet challenging manufacturing goals, minimum cost/weight and on an aggressive schedule.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, build and test turbopumps for liquid fueled rocket engines and other rocket or spacecraft systems
• Own critical turbomachinery components and be responsible for every aspect of the turbomachinery design, demonstrate ownership and work in close collaboration with manufacturing and assembling
• Perform the hydrodynamic sizing and flowpath design and analysis work for impellers and diffusers for the Raptor engine and other turbomachinery for spacecraft systems
• Ensure that detailed mechanical analysis is performed on all the turbopump components/systems. Review drawings and make sure that selected designs meet the required standards for life and reliability targets
• Devise accurate and correct models, develop new methodologies and first principles-based tools to determine turbopump performance and operability. Push the boundary of the state of the art of turbomachinery designs by exploring innovative concepts
• Interface with our world‑class production team to ensure designs are successfully translated into flight hardware that is revolutionizing access to space
• Work with teams developing other systems (vehicle, feedlines, valves, etc.) to ensure that the turbopump design is optimally integrated and that risks are well balanced across the system
• Own secondary flow analysis and design, ensure that current and future hardware meets performance targets
• Support both component and assembly testing. Be involved with defining the test configuration, the test process/execution and review the results to confirm
• Lead the resolution of issues encountered with the turbopump during development/qualification testing
• Support ongoing design improvements to turbopump assemblies and/or sub systems including manufacturing improvements to reduce cost and lead time of components

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience in the design of turbomachinery (extracurricular and internship experience qualifies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree or higher in aerospace, aeronautics or mechanical engineering
• Strong understanding of pump hydrodynamic/aerodynamic design and fundamentals of turbomachinery (mechanical design, and hands on experience with turbomachinery hardware build)
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, compressible and incompressible flow, thermochemistry, mechanics and/or materials
• Experience with turbomachinery manufacturing and design of manufacturability
• Experience with secondary flow and axial thrust balance modeling
• Experience with meanline analysis, turbomachinery testing and engine testing
• Professional experience using Siemens NX (Unigraphics) or other CAD packages
• Experience with Ansys (CFX, Mechanical, Thermal)
• Understanding of engineering fundamentals and the ability to develop first principles based models and quick estimates
• Experience at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness to travel in support of launching and testing of hardware
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed to resolve critical technical or timing issues

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Pay range: Turbomachinery Engineer/Level 1: $100,000.00 - $117,500.00 per year
• Pay range: Turbomachinery Engineer/Level 2: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. §1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. §1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s affirmative action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].