Propulsion Engineer

6w1 month ago

SpaceX

US · Full-time

About this role

The Propulsion Engineer role at SpaceX develops fluid systems that enable high-performance and highly manufacturable interplanetary vehicles. This position focuses on designing, analyzing, and building fluid systems across the Starship and Super Heavy vehicles to support missions including human life on Mars.

Daily work involves sizing vehicle fluid systems, creating original CAD models, performing structural analysis, and executing design for manufacturability changes. Engineers drive first builds of flight hardware while establishing production lines with manufacturing teams.

The position covers high-pressure gas storage, cryogenic fluid management, attitude control systems, and thermal control systems. Engineers also develop concepts of operations from acceptance testing through in-flight operations in a fast-paced production environment.

Collaboration occurs with engineering and production teams to generate designs and improvements for current and next-generation vehicles. The role requires hands-on work in extreme environments with tight hardware integration and supplier coordination.

Requirements

Bachelor's or advanced degree in aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering or engineering physics
1+ years of mechanical or fluids design, analysis, or build experience (student project team and internship experience qualifies)
Experience with fluid dynamics, finite element, or related computer-based modeling
Experience with pressurized components including valves, regulators, tubes, and pipes
Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) software packages
Experience with Siemens NX or similar CAD package

Responsibilities

Perform fluids system sizing analysis to determine basic system requirements
Transform system requirements into hardware concepts and trade implementation and architecture options
Design pressurized and unpressurized structures and parts, creating original CAD models and prints
Perform structural analysis of parts and components to ensure survivability
Execute design for manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency
Drive the first builds of flight hardware and establish production lines with manufacturing teams
Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware