# Propulsion Engineer (Falcon Flight Operations) at SpaceX

> United States · Unspecified · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aspacex%3A8789900002 (read 2026-11-05).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [SpaceX](https://alderhq.app/companies/spacex)
- Location text: Hawthorne, CA; Hawthorne, CA
- Where it can be done from (inferred): United States (evidence: "Location: Hawthorne, CA; Hawthorne, CA")
- Posted: 2026-09-09 (57 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-03 · last verified: 2026-11-04
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8789900002?gh_jid=8789900002
- Skills listed (inferred): Python

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: not posted
- H-1B filings at this company for similar roles, FY26: 23, median offered wage $140k ([US DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/performance))

## Description (the employer's text)

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 (FALCON FLIGHT OPERATIONS)

The Falcon Flight Operations team is dedicated to delivering Falcon and its payloads to orbit rapidly and reliably. The Propulsion Engineers on this team are responsible for ensuring flightworthiness of Falcon propulsion hardware and software over the life cycle of the vehicle, from initial build, through acceptance testing, and into flight (and re-flight) operations. Additionally, Propulsion Engineers are responsible for driving reliability-improving and rate-enabling initiatives to maintain the long-term success of Falcon as the most-flown, most-reliable launch vehicle in existence. Falcon hardware within the scope of this role consists of M1D engines, MVacD engines, and Stage 1 and Stage 2 systems (propellant measurement, management, and feed systems, tank pressurization systems, attitude control systems, pneumatic systems, hydraulic systems, primary and secondary structures, and thermal protection systems).

### RESPONSIBILITIES

- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Falcon propulsion systems
- Make critical decisions for the processing of Merlin and Stage Propulsion hardware during build, test, integration, and flight to ensure 100% mission success
- Define, implement, and validate acceptance and operational requirements to promote reliability, rapid reusability, and streamlined processing of Falcon rockets
- Take on primary responsibility for the success of Merlin engines or Stage Propulsion hardware for a given test or launch campaign
- Support test and launch operations across all SpaceX facilities, including live on-console support from mission control
- Perform post-test and post-flight data reviews, and provide technical recommendations to the Vehicle Maintenance team to enable rapid, reliable reuse of hardware
- Solve undefined and multi-disciplinary problems, interfacing with engineering and technician teams from all disciplines across SpaceX (e.g., production, test, launch, avionics, structures, guidance, navigation & control, thermal and fluid analysis, flight and ground software, mission management, flight reliability, etc.)
- Work closely with commercial and government customers to drive down technical debt, mitigate flight risks, and ensure maximum hardware and software reliability
- Lead propulsion anomaly investigations and drive these investigations to resolution
- Develop new automation capabilities to enable extreme launch cadence – leverage coding for rapid test and flight data analysis, flight software verification, and other engineering processes, and eliminate recurring work
- Optimize recurring test and mission tasks to enable an increasingly demanding launch manifest
### BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience working with engines or fluid systems
### PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

- Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or aeronautical/astronautical engineering
- Analytical/scientific programming experience
- Experience in collaborative coding within version-controlled repositories (e.g., Git)
- Experience with Python
- Strong foundation in fluid mechanics (compressible and incompressible), thermodynamics, combustion, structures/fracture mechanics, and materials
- Familiarity with liquid propellant rocket engine cycles, launch vehicle fluid systems, and components
- Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) and ability to succinctly present recommendations to stakeholders, customers, and management
- Hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly, and/or testing (can be in a professional, academic, entrepreneurial, or hobby setting)
- Experience testing liquid propellant rockets and/or working with pneumatic systems, hydraulic systems, cryogenic propellants, pressure control devices, valves, tubes/pipes, diffusers, and fittings

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aspacex%3A8789900002 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.