Propulsion Fluids Analyst (Raptor Systems Engineering)

The Propulsion Fluids Analyst role is responsible for evaluating and improving engine hardware designs through fluids and thermal analyses using tools such as Sinda/Fluint, STAR-CCM+, and custom code to build, mesh, and solve models. You will analyze conditions across all operations—from startup through mainstage to shutdown—and for every phase of flight in the mission, while validating predictions with engine test and flight data. Your analytical conclusions will guide investigations spanning the entire engine, from individual valves and combustors to coupled system-level interactions, directly enabling the development, production, and safe operation of the most advanced, full-flow staged combustion engine boosting the largest launch vehicle in history.

• →Perform fluids, CFD, and thermal analysis to drive design decisions for flight engine hardware and provide verification that reliability and performance requirements are met for all phases of flight of the mission
• →Collaborate with propulsion engineers on various engine teams to proactively anticipate and drive analyses throughout engine component design cycles.
• →Ground model predictions in reality through hands-on validation of testing development and flight hardware
• →Organize and improve integrated system models and analysis workflow for greater output and efficiency

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience in fluids, CFD, and thermal analysis

• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline
• Demonstrable proficiency in the basic principles of compressible and incompressible fluid mechanics and thermodynamics
• Experience with setup, execution, de-bugging, and post-processing (geometry, mesh generation, and model selection) of steady-state and transient CFD simulations using ideal and real-fluid equations of state (using StarCCM+, ANSYS CFX, or other)
• Experience with creating watertight parasolids for CFD using Siemens NX
• Experience with conjugate heat transfer simulations
• Experience with transient fluids modeling (using SINDA/FLUINT or other)
• Experience with thermal and heat transfer modeling (using ANSYS or other
• Experience in using thermal and fluids hand-calcs to validate or improve confidence in higher fidelity models
• Strong fundamental understanding of engine cycles and injector types used in liquid bipropellant rocket engines
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, etc. to automate/script tasks and post-process data
• Previous experience in the aerospace industry
• Demonstrated ability to execute high quality work in a technical environment on tight timelines and aggressive schedule
• Demonstrated ability to provide and concisely communicate (oral and written) highly technical information to a broad audience
• Self-motivated to solve complex problems
• Eager to participate in the extremely challenging but high impact environment that is SpaceX

• Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

• 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. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.