New Graduate Engineer, Propulsion (Starship)

The role

The Propulsion Engineer develops fluid systems for Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. This includes designing, analyzing, and building systems such as high-pressure gas storage, cryogenic fluid management, attitude control, and thermal control.

What you will do

• Perform fluids system sizing analysis to determine basic system requirements
• Transform system requirements into hardware concepts and trade implementation and architecture options
• Design a range of pressurized and unpressurized structures and parts
• Perform structural analysis of parts and components
• Execute design for manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency
• Drive the first builds of flight hardware and work with a manufacturing team
• Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware
• Participate in design reviews internally and with suppliers and customers
• Partner with engineering and production teams to generate ideas, designs, and improvements

Required qualifications

• Graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in 2027
• Degree in an engineering discipline or physics
• 1+ years of mechanical or fluids design, analysis, or build experience via project team, research, internships, and/or professional experience
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
• Ability and willingness to relocate to Starbase, TX (Brownsville, TX area)
• Stand: Up to 3 hours per day
• Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
• Push/Pull: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
• Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
• Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
• Lift/Carry: Up to 25lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
• Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day

Nice to have

• Experience with fluid dynamics, finite element, or related computer-based modeling
• Experience with pressurized components (valves, regulators, tubes, pipes, etc.)
• Experience leading operation-critical part mechanical design, including structures and fluids calculations and design considerations
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) software packages
• Experience with Siemens NX or other similar CAD package
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

Before you apply

• Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm capabilities, which may include a medical history review
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful, permanent resident, Refugee, or Asylee, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations

About the company

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. The company is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars.