Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Components)

About the role

The Raptor Components team conceptualizes, models, drafts, and supports mechanical and electro-mechanical control assemblies that run the Raptor engine. On this team, you will design and ensure success of these assemblies by combining pneumatics, mechanical, electrical, and software into integrated packages enabling streamlined manufacturing and engine operation.

We design, analyze, build, test, and fly components for simplicity, manufacturability, and reliability in extreme thermal, pressure, and vibe environments. You will provide input into vehicle architecture trades and take a lead role in design and flight readiness on Starship, the vehicle that will transform Earth orbit operations, normalize space technology, and make humanity multi-planetary.

Responsibilities

• Generate and improve CAD, engineering drawings, analysis, component specifications, and risk assessments to maximize vehicle reliability.
• Spearhead root cause investigations that arise in development, production, test, integration and launch, implementing corrective actions, proactively seeking out hardware issues, and implementing solutions early.
• Develop state-of-the-art, manufacturable, 99.99% reliable flow control devices.
• Safely implement thorough component testing and checkouts across multiple build, test, and launch sites.
• Partner with supply chain, manufacturing, testing, and flight teams to achieve SpaceX's most reliable, highest rate components, striving for high factory yield and automotive volume/cost.
• Inform system-level architecture, with component capabilities and vulnerabilities in mind, to minimize cost of payload to orbit.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ years of experience designing and analyzing mechanical systems via professional work experience, project/research-based student experience, or a combination of both.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree or 1+ years of professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience designing, building, testing and troubleshooting mechanical systems.
• Understanding of fundamental principals in fluid systems, solid mechanics, and/or electrical systems.
• Hands-on experience with fluid, gas, mechanical, high voltage, or test instrumentation and control.
• Knowledge of electro-mechanical devices, gears, actuators, motors, valves, regulators, or pumps.
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to travel. 10% travel in support of hardware testing and launch operations.

Pay Range

Level 1: $100,000.00 - $117,500.00

Level 2: $115,000.00 - $140,000.00

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.