SpaceX Logo

SpaceX

Propulsion Engineer, Gasifier Integration (Starship)

Posted Yesterday
Be an Early Applicant
Hawthorne, CA
95K-130K
Junior
Hawthorne, CA
95K-130K
Junior
The engineer will develop manufacturing processes for the Starship gasifier, collaborating with a team to enhance performance and streamline production. Responsibilities include troubleshooting, authoring work instructions, and training teammates for efficient operations.
The summary above was generated by AI

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, GASIFIER INTEGRATION (STARSHIP) 

SpaceX is seeking a highly motivated engineer to join our team in designing and developing the manufacturing system for the Starship gasifier - a turbomachinery system that provides increased performance and operational capability to Starship and Super Heavy. 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, this engineer will develop a brand new manufacturing system for Starship, evolving development tests to full-rate production capability. They will face challenges across a wide variety of work centers at the company and will be at the forefront of developing manufacturing, integration and test processes for next generation systems. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Develop manufacturing processes, techniques, and tools to enable efficient and high rate manufacturing of the gasifier system - including integration and test of structural and fluids systems, additive manufacturing and CNC machining process development 
  • Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of turbomachinery and manufacturing engineers - every engineer at SpaceX assumes profound responsibility for their processes 
  • Develop standards and processes to increase reliability and decrease process time 
  • Drive simplicity into the vehicle's systems at every level
  • Lead troubleshooting and diagnostic efforts of build/test issues in real time  
  • Author work instructions to address both nominal and off nominal work scopes  
  • Manage changes and upgrades as the system develops  
  • Develop and train teammates to support empowered product ownership utilizing risk-conscious decision-making skills under pressure
  • Maintain a positive and constructive attitude in the face of technical and non-technical challenges

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

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

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

  • Strong understanding of fundamentals of turbomachinery (hands on experience with turbomachinery hardware build)
  • Experience developing additive or CNC/machining manufacturing processes for metallic parts 
  • Experience with turbomachinery manufacturing and design of manufacturability
  • Experience designing tools and shop aides to improve the manufacturability of systems 
  • Well versed in GD&T and its inspection procedures and processes
  • Systems engineering experience, 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 basic test operations 
  • Experience developing test software/automation 
  • Experience writing test plans, procedures and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale 
  • Experience at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Ability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects 
  • Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed based on operational needs; flexibility is required 
  • Must be willing to travel to other SpaceX sites when needed (15%) 

 COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:          
Propulsion Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Propulsion Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive 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, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 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.

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 [email protected]

Top Skills

Additive Manufacturing
Cnc Machining
Electrical Schematics
Fluid Schematics
Gd&T
Test Automation
Turbomachinery

SpaceX Hawthorne, California, USA Office

1 Rocket Road, Hawthorne, CA, United States, 90250

Similar Jobs

11 Minutes Ago
Remote
3 Locations
Mid level
Mid level
Artificial Intelligence • Machine Learning • Software • Defense
Lead a team in developing and enhancing OSINT data collection software, focusing on web traffic processing and operational security.
Top Skills: AWSPostgresPythonTemporal.Io
26 Minutes Ago
Hybrid
5 Locations
134K-201K Annually
Senior level
134K-201K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Machine Learning • Software • Cybersecurity • Defense
The Technical Lead in Mechatronics Modeling and Simulation will mentor the team, lead technical studies, and guide modeling and testing for aerospace control systems.
Top Skills: C/C++DspaceLabviewMatlab/SimulinkPythonSolidworks
26 Minutes Ago
Hybrid
5 Locations
117K-176K Annually
Senior level
117K-176K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Machine Learning • Software • Cybersecurity • Defense
The Senior Engineering Specialist (GNC) provides technical leadership on control systems for spacecraft and launch vehicles, ensuring high performance and reliability through expert guidance, oversight, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
Top Skills: C/C++DspaceLabviewMatlab/SimulinkPythonSolidworks

What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene

Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.

Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
  • Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
  • Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account