Propulsion Test Engineer (Raptor Components)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

About The Position

SpaceX’s Raptor Components team develops and tests mechanical and electro-mechanical control assemblies for the Raptor engine, including valves, regulators, actuators, firespin and ignition hardware, sensors, and associated fluid and electrical packages. These components must be manufacturable and reliable under extreme thermal, pressure, and vibration conditions. The Propulsion Test Engineer is hands-on with component testing, including pressurizing and instrumenting high-pressure hardware and designing the tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment required for tests. The engineer plans and defines testing, establishes pass/fail criteria, conducts or directs test campaigns, and documents results to support clear go/no-go decisions. Work includes development, qualification, and failure investigations, primarily at the factory and also at test and launch sites. The role works with component and avionics responsible engineers, suppliers, manufacturing, and the components test organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
At least 1 year of hands-on experience with mechanical, fluid, or electrical systems through professional work, internships, project or research teams, or a combination of these.
Willingness to travel 10% in support of hardware testing and launch operations.
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Ability to stoop, bend, crawl, and maneuver in tight spaces as needed to set up and run tests.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on pressure, proof, or leak testing of fluid or gas hardware.
Experience designing, documenting, building, and operating test tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, or other test equipment.
Experience writing test plans and procedures, setting pass/fail criteria, and making go/no-go decisions.
Experience with high-pressure fluids, cryogenics, valves, regulators, actuators, or other propulsion components.
Experience with test instrumentation and control, and interpreting fluid schematics, electrical schematics, and engineering drawings.
Experience developing test software or automation in Python or a similar language.
Experience supporting hardware anomaly and failure investigations.
Understanding of fluid systems, solid mechanics, and/or electrical systems, including electro-mechanical devices such as valves, regulators, actuators, and sensors.
Strong written and verbal communication with design, build, test, and supplier teams.
Master’s degree or additional professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering.

Responsibilities

Own component test plans, procedures, campaigns, and pass/fail criteria from development through qualification.
Question requirements, recommend test improvements that maximize learning, and simplify or automate testing where appropriate.
Conduct pressure, proof, leak, functional, thermal, and vibration testing on Raptor control components and avionics, including tests involving high-pressure fluids and gases and cryogenic conditions.
Operate energetic and hazardous test setups safely and follow safety protocols.
Propose tests and priorities, request needed assets and tools early, plan test needs, and coordinate test requests.
Coordinate peers through informal leadership, assign clear test responsibilities, and hold work to schedule.
Design, build, and improve test tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and automated test systems; use CAD, schematics, analysis, and fabrication as needed.
Provide test results and capability limits to responsible engineers through clear, archival documentation.
Write procedures and train technicians and engineers to enable efficient checkouts.
Serve as the component team’s instrumentation and measurement expert; select sensors, interpret fluid and electrical schematics and engineering drawings, and assess data quality.
Set rigorous standards for component qualification and acceptance testing, increasing scrutiny as the vehicle program matures toward commercial and crewed orbital missions.
Lead root-cause investigations arising during development, production, test, integration, and launch; drive corrective actions and provide data to design, build, or supplier teams when failures recur.

Benefits

Potential eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Various other discounts and perks.
Accrual of 3 weeks of paid vacation may be available.
10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.