Propulsion Test Engineer (Raptor Components)
Hawthorne · 1+ years experience · Posted Oct 19, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 1+ years experience
- Location
- Hawthorne
About the role
- The Raptor Components team is responsible for the mechanical and electro-mechanical control assemblies that run the Raptor engine, including valves, regulators, actuators, and sensors.
- This role involves hands-on testing of high-pressure hardware, designing test tooling and ground support equipment, and leading failure investigations.
- The position requires working across development, qualification, and production phases, primarily at the factory with some support at test and launch sites.
Responsibilities
- Own component test plans, procedures, campaigns, and pass/fail criteria from development through qualification.
- Execute pressure, proof, leak, functional, thermal, and vibration testing on Raptor control components and avionics.
- Design, build, and improve test tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and automated test systems.
- Select sensors and interpret fluid and electrical schematics and engineering drawings to ensure data quality.
- Write procedures and train technicians and engineers to ensure efficient test execution.
- Lead root-cause investigations for anomalies arising in development, production, test, integration, and launch.
- Coordinate peers through informal leadership to assign test responsibilities and meet project deadlines.
- Drive corrective actions and provide clear, archival documentation of test results to responsible engineers.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
- 1+ years of hands-on experience with mechanical, fluid, or electrical systems through professional work, internships, or project/research teams.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to conform to U.S. Government export regulations (ITAR).
- Ability to stoop, bend, crawl, and maneuver in tight spaces to set up and run tests.
- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Preferred qualifications
- Hands-on pressure, proof, or leak testing of fluid or gas hardware.
- Experience designing, documenting, building, and operating test tooling or ground support equipment.
- Experience writing test plans, procedures, and making go/no-go calls.
- Experience with high-pressure fluids, cryogenics, valves, regulators, actuators, or propulsion components.
- Experience with test instrumentation, control, and interpreting fluid/electrical schematics and engineering drawings.
- Experience developing test software or automation in Python or a similar language.
- Experience supporting anomaly and failure investigations on hardware.
- Master’s degree or additional professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
Benefits
- Company stock or long-term cash awards
- Discretionary bonuses
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Medical, vision, and dental coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Short and long-term disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- 3 weeks of paid vacation
- 10 or more paid holidays per year
Workplace
- 10% travel required in support of hardware testing and launch operations.
Skills
- Python
- CAD
- Pressure Testing
- Leak Testing
- Proof Testing
- Fluid Systems
- Electrical Systems
- Solid Mechanics
- Instrumentation
- Cryogenics
