Propulsion Engineer (Merlin Flight Operations)

Space Exploration Technologies•Hawthorne, CA

66d

About The Position

The Merlin Flight Operations team is dedicated to delivering Falcon and its payloads to orbit rapidly and reliably. The Propulsion Engineers on this team are responsible for ensuring flightworthiness of Merlin engine hardware and software over the life cycle of the engine, from initial build, through acceptance testing, and into flight (and re-flight) operations. Additionally, Propulsion Engineers are responsible for driving reliability-improving and rate-enabling initiatives to maintain the long-term success of Falcon as the most-flown, most-reliable launch vehicle in existence.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
1+ years of experience working with engines or fluid systems

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in mechanical engineering or aeronautical/astronautical engineering
Analytical/scientific programming experience
Hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly, and/or testing
Experience in collaborative coding within version-controlled repositories (i.e. Git)
Experience with Python
Proficiency in the basic principles of compressible and incompressible flow, thermodynamics, thermochemistry, mechanics, and materials
Basic familiarity with liquid propellant rocket engine cycles, liquid propellant launch vehicle fluid systems, and components used in launch vehicle fluid systems
Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) and ability to succinctly present recommendations to stakeholders, the customer, and management
Hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing (can be in a professional, academic, entrepreneurial, or hobby setting)
Experience testing liquid propellant rocket engines and/or working with pressurized fluid components such as valves and/or pneumatic systems
Experience with integrated vehicle pad and launch operations
Demonstrated track record of success in a rapidly growing, changing and highly technical environment - ability to act and execute in a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner against tight timelines
Profound sense of personal ownership and extreme accountability
Ability to think clearly and communicate concisely in high-pressure, time-critical situations
Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, exceptional attention to detail
Great attitude in the face of extreme challenges

Responsibilities

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Merlin engine and its operation
Make critical decisions for the processing of Merlin engine hardware during build, test, integration, and flight to ensure 100% mission success
Define, implement, and validate engine acceptance and operational requirements to promote reliability, rapid reusability, and streamlined processing of engines
Take on primary responsibility for the success of Merlin engine(s) for a given test or launch campaign
Support test and launch operations across all SpaceX facilities, including live on-console support from mission control
Perform post-test and post-flight data reviews, and provide technical recommendations to Vehicle Maintenance team to enable rapid, reliable reuse of hardware
Solve undefined and multi-disciplinary problems, interfacing with engineering and technician teams from all disciplines across SpaceX (e.g., production, test, launch, stage propulsion, avionics, structures, guidance, navigation & control, thermal and fluid analysis, flight and ground software, mission management, flight reliability, etc.)
Work closely with commercial and government customers to drive down technical debt, mitigate flight risks, and ensure maximum hardware and software reliability
Lead engine anomaly investigations and drive these investigations to resolution
Develop new automation capabilities to enable extreme launch cadence - leverage coding for rapid test and flight data analysis, flight software verification, and other engineering processes and eliminate recurring work
Optimize recurring test and mission tasks to enable an increasingly demanding launch manifest

Benefits

long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards
potential discretionary bonuses
ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
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
3 weeks of paid vacation
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