Propulsion Engineer for Raptor Development Operations

Join Vast as a Senior Propulsion Engineer where you will leverage your expertise to drive innovative propulsion systems. In this pivotal role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, analyze, and optimize propulsion technologies that are vital to our mission of advancing space exploration.

Join SpaceX as a Propulsion Engineer specializing in Raptor Components, where you will conceptualize, design, and support cutting-edge mechanical and electro-mechanical control assemblies for the Raptor engine. In this pivotal role, you'll combine your expertise in pneumatics, mechanics, and software to develop integrated packages that enhance manufacturing efficiency and operational effectiveness. You will lead projects that prioritize simplicity, manufacturability, and reliability, ensuring our components withstand extreme thermal, pressure, and vibrational environments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and take charge of your projects while influencing vehicle architecture decisions that contribute to our mission of making humanity a multi-planetary species.

Role Overview Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is working toward a future where people explore the stars. The company’s mission centers on developing technologies that could support human life on Mars and beyond. Propulsion Engineer - Raptor Components Manufacturing will join the team responsible for designing and building advanced engine control components for the Raptor engine. This group focuses on flow control devices, combining pneumatics, mechanical, electrical, and software systems into integrated solutions. Their work directly impacts both manufacturing efficiency and engine performance. What You Will Do Design and manufacture engine control components for the Raptor engine Develop solutions that integrate pneumatics, mechanical, electrical, and software systems Collaborate with hardware suppliers and test teams to ensure quality and performance Lead projects that shape the architecture of Starship Location This position is based in Hawthorne, CA.

At SpaceX, we believe that the future of humanity lies in the stars. Our mission is to develop groundbreaking technologies that enable human life on Mars and beyond.SENIOR PROPULSION ENGINEER - RAPTOR COMBUSTION DEVICESAs a Senior Propulsion Engineer, you will lead the development, production, and operational management of engine combustors and their associated hardware. This role involves driving the safe and effective development of components for the most advanced full-flow staged combustion engine integrated into the largest launch vehicle in history.

Role overview This Propulsion Engineer position at SpaceX focuses on valves within Raptor propulsion components. Based in Hawthorne, CA, the role involves hands-on work with the design, development, and testing of propulsion systems that power SpaceX rockets. Key responsibilities Design and develop valve components for Raptor propulsion systems Test propulsion hardware to confirm reliability and performance Collaborate with fellow engineers on projects supporting SpaceX’s rocket programs Team and impact Join a group of engineers dedicated to advancing space technology. This team’s work directly supports SpaceX’s mission to broaden access to space by developing reliable propulsion hardware.

At SpaceX, we believe in a thrilling future where humanity explores the stars. Our mission is to develop cutting-edge technologies that will enable human life on Mars.PROPULSION ENGINEER (RAPTOR COMBUSTION DEVICES)As a Propulsion Engineer, you will take ownership of the design, production, and operation of an engine combustor and related hardware, guiding it from concept to successful flight. Your efforts will be crucial in the development and testing of the most advanced full flow staged combustion engine on the largest launch vehicle ever created.

At SpaceX, we believe in a future where humanity explores the stars, and we are actively creating the technologies to make that dream a reality. Our ultimate mission is to enable human life on Mars. SENIOR PROPULSION DESIGN ENGINEER (RAPTOR ENGINE SYSTEMS)The Raptor Systems Design team is on the lookout for a seasoned engineer to take ownership of defining, enforcing, and validating engine design criteria—bridging the gap between design, testing, analysis, and production. You will oversee the requirements for the world’s most advanced rocket engine, ensuring they effectively cascade to subsystems and are verified through comprehensive testing and analysis.You will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing design documentation across the department (including DCRs, PDRs, CDRs), driving corrective actions for any deficiencies, and promoting best practices in design, development, and production. You will monitor the overall health of design criteria for the engine, report risks and gaps to leadership, and lead cross-team initiatives to resolve issues in ways that enhance the overall program.This position requires an autonomous engineer with experience in hardware ownership, exceptional communication skills, and a strong background in CAD, structural design, and fluid systems. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully managing large, multi-team initiatives. Experience with rocket engines in both development and production environments is highly desirable. Your contributions will ensure that Raptor becomes the rocket engine that paves the way for a multiplanetary existence.RESPONSIBILITIES:Collaborate with subsystem and component owners to translate high-level requirements into clear, measurable criteria at lower levels.Regularly audit design documentation to identify gaps, risks, and inconsistencies, and drive closure of findings.Analyze test and analysis data to confirm that criteria are met, initiating follow-up actions when validation falls short.Enhance departmental processes for design reviews (DCR, PDR, CDR) to improve efficiency and clarity of outcomes.Compile and present periodic design health reports to leadership, emphasizing critical issues and progress trends.Facilitate resolution of cross-team conflicts by balancing technical, scheduling, and program-wide priorities.Promote design best practices by sharing lessons learned and aligning teams on standards for producibility, reliability, and performance.Lead initiatives that integrate feedback from production, testing, and flight operations to refine and enhance design processes.

At SpaceX, we believe in a future where humanity explores the stars, and we are dedicated to making that future a reality. Our current focus is on pioneering technologies that will enable human life on Mars.SOFTWARE ENGINEER - PROPULSION SIMULATION & DATA ANALYSIS (RAPTOR)The Raptor Systems Modeling and Control Team plays a crucial role in the power balance, optimal control, and calibration of one of the world’s most advanced rocket engines. We are instrumental in conducting root cause analyses for anomaly resolutions and provide data-driven insights that support operations and component teams in critical decision-making. Our modeling and analyses are essential for evaluating the safety and efficiency of flight trajectories. With numerous engines and simulations, our work directly influences both engine design and the operational success of every mission and engine test. In this position, you will collaborate with a team of exceptional engineers, creating streamlined processes to convert engine test data into precise forecasts of future performance for the most reliable and innovative rocket engines globally.

About SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is committed to building technologies that support human life beyond Earth. The work here centers on making Mars a future home for humanity. Role Overview The Propulsion Engineer - Raptor Combustion Devices Manufacturing position is based in Hawthorne, CA. This role focuses on developing, implementing, and refining production processes for sub-assemblies and components used in the Raptor engine. The team works together to solve technical challenges and deliver reliable hardware for one of the world’s most powerful rocket engines. What You Will Do Create and improve manufacturing and integration processes for combustion device assemblies in the Raptor engine family. Introduce new manufacturing methods to support high production rates. Evaluate and refine processes in partnership with design engineers to boost manufacturability and reliability. Manage the rollout and execution of new products and revisions, often handling several at once. Oversee production lines, focusing on process consistency, quality, tooling, equipment, ergonomics, and safety. Address recurring manufacturing issues and work with the quality team to implement corrective actions. Collaborate with engineers and technicians across disciplines to support production, testing, and launches. Coordinate with internal fabrication shops and vendors to meet production targets. Ensure on-time delivery of assigned hardware.

At SpaceX, we believe in a future where humanity explores the stars. Our mission is to develop groundbreaking technologies that will make this vision a reality, ultimately enabling human life on Mars.MATERIALS ENGINEER, PROPULSION MATERIALSJoin our propulsion materials engineering team, where you will collaborate with experts across various materials disciplines to create the best rocket engines in the world. As a key member of this team, you will enhance the materials and processes used in engine production. This role primarily supports the additive manufacturing of metals while impacting the design, analysis, and manufacturing of entire engine systems across all our vehicles, including Starship and Falcon. If you aspire to advance cutting-edge propulsion, materials, and manufacturing technologies, this is the opportunity for you.

At SpaceX, we believe that a future where humanity explores the cosmos is far more thrilling than one where we remain Earth-bound. We are dedicated to developing innovative technologies aimed at making interplanetary travel a reality, with the ultimate goal of establishing human life on Mars.SENIOR PROPULSION ENGINEER - RAPTOR DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONSAs a Senior Propulsion Engineer, you will take charge of the development, production, and operational integrity of the engine ignition systems, transient sequences, and associated combustion devices crucial for the successful ignition and shutdown of the Raptor engine across all flight phases. Your leadership will be instrumental in ensuring the effective and safe development, operation, and flight (and re-flight) of this cutting-edge, full-flow staged combustion engine designed to propel the largest launch vehicle in history.

At SpaceX, we envision a future where humanity explores the cosmos, and we are committed to making this a reality. As a Propulsion Analyst specializing in Structures for our Raptor engine, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our cutting-edge rocket engines endure extreme conditions from launch to landing. Your analytical skills and understanding of complex physics will be essential in optimizing engine performance. If you are passionate about structural mechanics, advanced computing, and tackling intricate engineering challenges, we invite you to join our mission.

At SpaceX, we are driven by a vision of a future where humanity explores the cosmos. Our mission is to develop advanced technologies that will make interplanetary travel a reality, with the ultimate goal of establishing human life on Mars.TEST ENGINEER, PROPULSION COMPONENTS (STARSHIP)The Components Test Organization is a dedicated team of engineers, specialists, and technicians that provides the essential testing expertise required for the development of flight hardware across various systems, including Falcon Launch Systems, Dragon Spacecraft Systems, Starship Launch and Spacecraft Systems, and Starlink Telecommunications Satellites. Our involvement with flight hardware begins at the conception phase and continues through R&D testing, design qualification, production/acceptance testing, and failure investigations of hardware throughout its lifecycle.As experts in testing, we play a critical role in the hardware development process and must possess high proficiency in various engineering disciplines such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, fluid dynamics, automation, and control systems, in addition to the analysis and interpretation of test data. Given the hands-on nature of this role, we require expertise in the safe operation of high-energy and hazardous testing environments to ensure the safety of all personnel. Our deep knowledge of flight hardware and its testing requirements also extends to the development of automated test systems necessary for the reliable and rapid production of flight hardware. This involves skills in systems engineering, CAD, analysis, fabrication, project management, and logistics, particularly focusing on propulsion components, including high-pressure fluid systems, valves, turbomachinery, and injectors for the Raptor engines of Starship.

At SpaceX, we believe in a future where humanity explores the stars, and we are committed to developing the technologies that will make this vision a reality. Our ultimate goal is to enable human life on Mars.Senior Software Engineer - Propulsion Simulation & Data Analysis (Raptor)The Raptor Systems Modeling and Control Team is at the forefront of advancing rocket engine technology. We are tasked with optimizing power balance, control mechanisms, and calibration for one of the most advanced rocket engines in the world. Our team conducts critical root cause analyses and provides data-driven insights that inform high-stakes decisions for operations and components. Our models and analyses are essential for evaluating the safety and efficiency of flight trajectories, guiding engine design, and ensuring the success of every mission and test. In this role, you will collaborate with a team of passionate engineers to create streamlined processes that transform engine test data into precise predictions of future performance, enhancing the reliability of the most cutting-edge rocket engines available.

Join the innovative team at SpaceX as a Propulsion Technician specializing in Raptor Manufacturing Systems. As part of our mission to revolutionize space travel, you will play a crucial role in the assembly, testing, and maintenance of propulsion systems that power our rockets. Your expertise will contribute directly to the advancement of our cutting-edge technology.In this dynamic environment, you will work hands-on with state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring the highest quality standards are met. Your contributions will not only support our launch operations but also pave the way for future space exploration.

At SpaceX, we believe in a future where humanity explores the stars. Our mission is to develop cutting-edge technologies that enable human life on Mars.Join SpaceX as a New Graduate Propulsion Engineer for the Raptor team, the world's most advanced rocket engine driving Starship's mission of making humanity multiplanetary. If you're ready to tackle real-world propulsion challenges, from design and analysis to manufacturing and testing, this is your chance to contribute to building the most powerful rocket engine, focusing on efficiency and reusability. Bring your innovative spirit and solid engineering principles to push the limits of what’s achievable.RESPONSIBILITIES:Engage in a dynamic role that leverages your skills in building high-performance flight hardware and a high-volume rocket engine production line.Take ownership of the design and development of next-generation rocket engines, test stands, and production systems.Conduct hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA) to create, evaluate, and improve designs.Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes in a fast-paced environment.Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure hardware integration within all Raptor systems, supporting mission operations.Drive significant business outcomes and experience unparalleled personal and professional growth.Witness groundbreaking ideas become reality as we transition from hardware development to flying reusable rockets.

Join SpaceX as a Propulsion Analyst specializing in Chamber and Nozzle systems for the Raptor engine. In this pivotal role, you will engage in the detailed analysis and optimization of propulsion systems, contributing to the development of next-generation launch vehicles. Your expertise will help drive innovation and ensure performance efficiency.

At SpaceX, we believe in a future where humanity is exploring the stars, and we are actively developing the technologies to make that vision a reality. Our ultimate goal is to enable human life on Mars.PROPULSION TECHNICIAN (RAPTOR)We are seeking highly motivated candidates with a blend of mechanical expertise, hands-on experience, and a strong desire to learn. The Propulsion Technician will play a critical role in the assembly and testing of rocket hardware and related sub-assemblies. This dynamic position requires adaptability to work across different systems, the ability to troubleshoot anomalies, and the capacity to work independently on set schedules while prioritizing safety and quality in all tasks.

At SpaceX, we envision a future where humanity ventures beyond Earth to explore the universe. As pioneers in aerospace technology, our ultimate ambition is to make human life multiplanetary, with Mars as our primary target.PROPULSION TECHNICIAN (SUPER HEAVY BOOSTER PROPULSION SYSTEMS)The Propulsion Technician team is at the forefront of hardware assembly and testing for Booster subassembly propulsion systems. You will be instrumental in constructing and evaluating propulsion assemblies designed to operate under extreme dynamic conditions, ensuring maximum reliability and performance for Raptor and Super Heavy systems.In this role, you will uphold rigorous standards of build quality while collaborating closely with engineers to enhance booster propulsion subsystem production processes. You will leverage your technical knowledge of component functionality to assist in troubleshooting, proactively identifying potential issues, and refining work instructions to improve safety and efficiency.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Deliver cutting-edge, high-quality propulsion assemblies.Work in partnership with engineering and leadership to ensure reliable component delivery rates.Set benchmarks for a highly efficient technician team, adhering to specifications and communicating progress effectively.Execute precise manufacturing tasks, including assembling subassemblies for fluid systems, conducting pressure tests, and performing electrical integrity assessments.Diagnose failure modes and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance designs and processes, facilitating transitions from design to mass production.