Sr. Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Flight) Verified today

Sr. Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Flight)

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

Responsibilities

• 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 (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.
• Support live test and flight operations as a primary console operator; analyze telemetry data to establish engine systems health and 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 as 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; push tasks to completion with a burning sense of urgency and extreme ownership.
• 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.

Basic Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or aeronautical/astronautical engineering.
• Demonstrable proficiency in 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 risk reviews with senior leadership.
• Passion for developing and following rigorous engineering processes designed to deliver reliability in a high-stakes environment.
• 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.
• Ability to pivot and adapt quickly to changes in direction, schedule, priority, and level of depth.
• Ability to act and execute in a scrappy and entrepreneurial manner.

Additional Requirements

• 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.

Compensation

Level 3: $135,000.00 - $215,000.00 base salary (determined case-by-case based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience).

You may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan participation. Benefits include comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage; 401(k) retirement plan; short and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; paid parental leave; 3 weeks of paid vacation; 10 or more paid holidays per year; and paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.

ITAR Requirements

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