About this role
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.
NEW GRADUATE PROPULSION ENGINEER, RAPTOR
Join the forefront of space exploration at SpaceX as a member of the Raptor team – the worlds most advanced rocket engine powering Starship’s journey in making humanity multiplanetary. If you’re eager to tackle real-world challenges in propulsion systems, from mechanical design and analysis to manufacturing and testing – this is your opportunity to help build the worlds most powerful rocket engine with an emphasis on efficiency and reusability. Bring your innovative mindset and strong fundamentals in engineering principles to drive the boundaries of what’s possible.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Expect a dynamic role doing what you’re best at. Our team is building high performance flight hardware, a high-volume rocket engine production line, and a propulsion system that can rapidly and reliably power our rockets. Whatever your skill set, you’ll be aligned to the part of the program you’re most effectively able to contribute to.
• Own the design and development of next generation rocket engines, test stands, and production lines.
• Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs.
• Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure hardware integrates with all Raptor systems and supports necessary mission operations.
• Own large business outcomes and experience a rate of personal and professional growth that is unmatched literally anywhere else.
• Get a front row seat to witness an impossible idea manifest in real life. The next few years will be incredibly dynamic as we transition from the challenge of building hardware to actually flying reusable rockets to orbit.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ years of mechanical and/or fluids engineering experience via project team, research, internships, and/or professional experience.
• Graduating in the spring of 2026, summer of 2026 or Fall of 2026.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions.
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information. Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals.
• Experience working 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.
• Excelled in ultra-competitive