Propulsion Design Engineer (Raptor Engine Systems)

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.

PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR ENGINE SYSTEMS)

The Engine Systems Design team is responsible for the top-level design definition of Raptor and the mechanical and fluid interfaces that connect the engine to Starship. The team sits at the intersection of engine design, vehicle integration, manufacturing, test, and configuration management, maintaining a coherent engine design definition as Raptor evolves through design changes, investigations, and increasing production rates.

As a Propulsion Engineer on the Raptor Engine Systems Design team, your scope may include the top-level engine assembly, engine to vehicle interfaces, design change management, and the analysis and testing that is required to validate new designs. This includes maintaining high-quality CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, and assemblies, while helping ensure that engineering work across the department is released completely, accurately, and on schedule. Your scope may also include supporting the critical interfaces between Raptor and Starship, including structural capability, seals, packaging, and the hardware kits required to install the engine onto the Ship and Booster. Depending on program needs, you may also contribute to system-level conceptual design, packaging, routing, and layout work for future engine configurations and ongoing changes where the engine and vehicle must evolve together.

This role requires broad awareness of ongoing engineering changes, investigations, and design activity across the department. You will be involved with helping to drive engineering change reviews, design reviews, and design documentation while holding a high standard for technical quality across the organization.

The role also provides opportunities to improve how engine configuration is managed. Where configuration management, change tracking, or design documentation is still performed manually, your scope may include developing tools and automation to make those processes faster, more reliable, and more scalable.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support management of the top-level Raptor engine assembly across CAD, drawings, bills of materials, and configuration, while helping ensure complete hardware is released on schedule
• Maintain the engine fluid schematic as an accurate representation of the latest released engine design
• Support and maintain Raptor-to-Starship interfaces, including structural capability, seals, packaging, and dressout, shipping, and installation kits
• Maintain awareness of open engineering changes, investigations, and design work across the department that could affect the engine assembly
• Lead or support engineering change reviews and maintain current Bill of Design and design-review documentation, including DCR, PDR, and CDR
• Drive a high standard for engineering changes, design documentation, technical quality, and schedule across contributing engineering teams
• Develop automation for configuration management, change tracking, and design documentation where processes are still performed manually
• Develop interface, routing, packaging, and system-level layouts when engine and vehicle designs must change together
• Collaborate with manufacturing, test, analysis, and vehicle teams to resolve integration issues and move hardware from design through release and build
• Contribute to conceptual and system-level design work for future engine configurations and ongoing Raptor design changes as program needs require

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 2+ years of professional experience in mechanical design, mechanical integration,
• or a closely related role, including regular use of 3D CAD

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience managing or owning configuration of large mechanical assemblies
• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter
• Experience with fluid systems, heat transfer, or structural design
• Experience with engineering change processes and design-review documentation
• Experience creating production drawings using GD&T
• Hands-on experience in a factory, machine shop, or test environment
• Professional experience with rocket propulsion, vehicle interfaces, or high-pressure fluid systems
• Working knowledge of Python, SQL, MATLAB, or FEA tools such as ANSYS
• Experience with scripting and automation
• Experience with leading large interdisciplinary groups of people to achieve a tangible technical outcome or impact
• Experience with developing plans and schedules for technical teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience coordinating technical work across multiple teams

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• Ability to work directly with hardware on the production floor for extended periods of time

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

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 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.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• 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.