Sr. Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Flight)

The Senior Propulsion Engineer is responsible for taking engine operations from concept to reliable, repeatable flight. In this role, you will develop and oversee all processes necessary to effectively and safely prepare and fly world-changing Starship launch vehicles. Joint brilliant, passionate engineers to rapidly develop methods that achieve airline-like operations for the world’s highest-performing rocket engines.

• →Perform analysis, development engineering, and flight operations tasks for Raptor engine propulsion systems.
• →Align resources to accomplish team’s objectives, practice clear ownership, and set the performance bar at a high standard of excellence.
• →Enable high launch cadence with unparalleled reliability through automated analysis of test and flight data; expand existing capabilities and develop new algorithms to improve reliability and thoroughness of all flight processes.
• →Collaborate with engineers and technicians from various disciplines (e.g. Software, Ground Systems, Stage Propulsion, Integration and Test, Guidance and Control) to achieve successful and reliable engine performance in flight and during ground vehicle testing, and to continuously refine the designs and practices for increased product reliability and reduced costs.
• →Support live test and flight operations in role of a primary console operator; analyze telemetry data to establish engine systems health and to troubleshoot anomalies.
• →Exercise risk-conscious decision-making skills under high pressure and across multiple engineering systems; brief company leadership during live operations and anomaly investigations as required.
• →Support vehicle-level readiness and data reviews for the engine systems; represent the engine system in the role of Responsible Engineer to the rest of the vehicle, ground, and customer disciplines.
• →Implement and maintain rigorous hardware and software verification processes through the practical application of automation and process controls.
• →Fully own critical spaceflight operations (and possibly hardware) with profound responsibility
• →Execute walkdowns, and support hardware troubleshooting in the field.
• →Develop engineering test and flight plans; own engine development and validation testing campaigns or certain engineering inputs.
• →Balance competing priorities and multiple dynamic projects simultaneously, while assessing the level of depth/accuracy needed for each task; push tasks to completion, with a burning sense of urgency and extreme ownership.
• →Operate in high-stress environment with grit, endurance, and a great attitude.
• →Apply thermofluids fundamentals to size fluid systems and construct performance and risk trades for Raptor engine product and associated stage systems.
• →Lead engineering reviews and drive trade analyses to practical recommendations and decisions.

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline with training in thermofluids area.
• 4+ years of experience with liquid rocket engines or associated fluid systems.
• Experience in hardware design, manufacture, assembly, test, or flight.

• Ability to pivot and adapt quickly to changes in direction, schedule, priority, and/or level of depth as required to stay aligned with program’s evolving needs.
• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or aeronautical/astronautical engineering.
• Demonstrable proficiency in the basic principles of compressible/incompressible flow, thermodynamics, and materials.
• Experience developing hardware or operations from concept to working prototypes and refining the product to achieve robustness and autonomy.
• Experience with engineering programming tools (Python, MATLAB, or similar) and hardware design tools (Siemens NX or similar).
• Familiarity with basic concepts of control systems.
• Experience running engineering trade and risks reviews with senior leadership of the organization.
• Passion for developing and following rigorous engineering processes designed to deliver reliability in a high-stakes environment.
• Experience operating in a rapidly growing and evolving technical environment.
• Ability to act and execute in a scrappy and entrepreneurial manner.
• Professional liquid engine development experience; experience working with pressurized fluid components such as valves and pneumatic systems; experience working with high-temperature or combustion systems.

• Willingness to travel between CA and TX or FL in support of test and flight operations and hardware development.
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

• 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. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.