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Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Fleet Operations)

Mcgregor, Texas, United StatesOnsiteFull TimeEntry-level (exp-based)Posted 2 months agoVisa sponsorship available

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Role summary

SpaceX's Raptor Fleet Operations team is seeking a Propulsion Engineer to manage the fleet of Raptor engines from factory to flight. This role involves developing processes and tooling for fleet maintenance, enabling continuous reuse in the future. The engineer will troubleshoot engine issues, support integration and testing of R&D hardware, manage fleet upgrades, and develop reliability standards. This position requires strong engineering intuition, critical thinking, and system-level expertise to work under tight deadlines with minimal oversight. The role interfaces with design, build, and systems engineering teams, and contributes to production line development and tooling design.

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 FLEET OPERATIONS)

The Raptor Fleet Operations team is responsible for the fleet of Raptor engines from the time they leave the factory in Hawthorne until the time they fly. Today, the team is focused on enabling rapid design iteration by taking lessons from flight and engine testing and applying those lessons across the fleet. In the future, the team will begin to focus on developing the processes necessary to maintain a large fleet of engines capable of continuous reuse. As a Propulsion Engineer on this team, you will serve an important role in developing the processes and tooling that will be used to maintain the fleet of engines and will be the technical interface between the hardware and RE teams. Engineers in this role demonstrate a very high level of engineering intuition, critical thinking, system level expertise, and are comfortable working under tight deadlines with loosely defined requirements and minimal oversight. Combining these skills, these engineers face challenges across a wide variety of work centers at the company and are at the forefront of developing integration and test processes for current and next generation engines.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Lead troubleshooting and diagnostic efforts of engine issues in the field
  • Support integration and testing of R&D hardware to inform future designs and improve engine performance and reliability
  • Manage changes and upgrades to a large fleet of engines
  • Develop standards and processes to increase reliability and decrease process time
  • Author work instructions to address both nominal and off nominal engine work
  • Interface with design, build, and systems engineering as well as production leadership and technicians in the field
  • Contribute to the development of the Raptor production line, and provides feedback to design engineering to maximize efficiency and minimize cost/ton to orbit
  • Design and analyze tooling for production, test, integration, and transport of Raptor hardware

    • BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in physics or an engineering discipline
  • 1+ years of hands-on engineering experience (design teams and previous internships qualify)

    • PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Experience in systems engineering and ability to understand multi-disciplinary integrated systems
  • Experience creating, reading, and interpreting electrical and fluid schematics
  • Experience with integration and testing of propulsion and/or electrical systems
  • Experience in planning and execution of complex test operations
  • Experience developing test software and automation
  • Experience writing test plans, procedures, and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale

    • ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to work on ladders, lifts, and at elevated heights (up to 300 feet) with proper PPE
  • Ability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects, missions, and launches
  • Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed based on site operational needs; flexibility is required
  • Must be able to work in extreme outdoor environments when needed – heat, cold, wind, rain, etc.
  • Must be able to work in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
  • Must be willing to travel to other SpaceX sites when needed (up to 20%)

    • 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.

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