Propulsion Design Engineer (Raptor Engine Systems)

About the Role

The Engine Systems Design team is responsible for the top-level design definition of Raptor and the mechanical and fluid interfaces that connect the engine to Starship. This role sits at the intersection of engine design, vehicle integration, manufacturing, test, and configuration management.

Key Responsibilities

• Support management of the top-level Raptor engine assembly across CAD, drawings, bills of materials, and configuration, ensuring complete hardware is released on schedule.
• Maintain the engine fluid schematic as an accurate representation of the latest released engine design.
• Support and maintain Raptor-to-Starship interfaces, including structural capability, seals, packaging, and dressout, shipping, and installation kits.
• Maintain awareness of open engineering changes, investigations, and design work across the department that could affect the engine assembly.
• Lead or support engineering change reviews and maintain current Bill of Design and design-review documentation, including DCR, PDR, and CDR.
• Drive a high standard for engineering changes, design documentation, technical quality, and schedule across contributing engineering teams.
• Develop automation for configuration management, change tracking, and design documentation where processes are still performed manually.
• Develop interface, routing, packaging, and system-level layouts when engine and vehicle designs must change together.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, test, analysis, and vehicle teams to resolve integration issues and move hardware from design through release and build.
• Contribute to conceptual and system-level design work for future engine configurations and ongoing Raptor design changes as program needs require.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of professional experience in mechanical design, mechanical integration, or a closely related role, including regular use of 3D CAD.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Experience managing or owning configuration of large mechanical assemblies.
• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
• Experience with fluid systems, heat transfer, or structural design.
• Experience with engineering change processes and design-review documentation.
• Experience creating production drawings using GD&T.
• Hands-on experience in a factory, machine shop, or test environment.
• Professional experience with rocket propulsion, vehicle interfaces, or high-pressure fluid systems.
• Working knowledge of Python, SQL, MATLAB, or FEA tools such as ANSYS.
• Experience with scripting and automation.
• Experience with leading large interdisciplinary groups of people to achieve a tangible technical outcome or impact.
• Experience with developing plans and schedules for technical teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience coordinating technical work across multiple teams.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Ability to work directly with hardware on the production floor for extended periods of time.
• 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.