Sr. Propulsion Engineer, Additive (Raptor)

$125,000 - $175,000/Yr

SpaceX - Hawthorne, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Hawthorne, CA

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

The Sr. Propulsion Engineer, Additive (Raptor) at SpaceX is responsible for the design, development, and testing of additive manufacturing processes, focusing on enhancing the robustness and repeatability of printer platforms. This role involves collaboration with a team of engineers to optimize manufacturing techniques and improve overall production efficiency, with a strong emphasis on safety and best practices in additive manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Drive and identify projects to enhance printer platform robustness and repeatability.
• Contribute to the design, development, and testing of additive processes using powder-bed and powder-fed approaches.
• Implement process improvement efforts throughout the additive manufacturing process.
• Advise and collaborate with the design team to optimize features for additive manufacturing.
• Generate and optimize build files for high-quality part production.
• Work with materials engineers to develop optimal print parameters and heat treatments.
• Develop and maintain systems for efficient process data collection and analysis.
• Document best practices for new equipment and processes.
• Identify and implement safety improvements in the additive manufacturing process.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of professional hands-on fabrication, assembly, testing, and/or project management experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in engineering discipline.
• Experience with operating additive machines, including parameter development and process control.
• Experience with troubleshooting/repairing large industrial equipment.
• Experience with PLC programming.
• C#, Python and/or SQL experience.
• Knowledge of various additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques for metals.
• Knowledge of optics and lasers.
• Familiarity with common engineering materials properties and processing attributes for steels or nickel-based alloys.
• Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals.
• Proficient in principles of compressible and incompressible flow, thermodynamics, mechanics, materials, and electrical circuits.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to present recommendations succinctly.
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry and human spaceflight.
• Ability to work well in a collaborative team environment.
• Highly self-motivated and able to prioritize tasks in a high-pressure environment.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Short & long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with stock purchase options.
• 3 weeks of paid vacation.
• 10 or more paid holidays per year.
• 5 days of sick leave per year.