Propulsion Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.
The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the center of the ideas and data behind current and future systems supplying innovative research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; conceptual and detailed design; assembly, integration, and test; and operational support. Comprised primarily of highly trained mechanical and aerospace engineers, VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance, navigation, and controls; robotics; electro-mechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; orbital mechanics; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.
The Propulsion Department within VSD develops and evaluates cutting-edge propulsion technologies and systems for current and future government and commercial applications. The motto of the department is "We Deliver"; we deliver timely, objective, and actionable technical advice so that programs can execute efficiently toward mission success. In this position as Propulsion Engineer (Senior Member of Technical Staff/Engineering Specialist - Propulsion Engineering), you will perform technical evaluations and assessments of propulsion systems for high-priority space missions. Your work may involve propulsion system development, manufacturing, test, and operations for multiple programs. You must have a strong technical foundation and be willing to learn a broad range of new technologies and systems and effectively communicate results and recommendations to inform critical decisions.
This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA., offering a work model that combines at least four regular onsite workdays with remote flexibility as business needs allow.
What You'll Be Doing

• Evaluating propulsion system design, performance, and applications, and assisting in the development of new propulsion systems and component technology
• Using and/or developing new tools and analyses to assess the performance of space propulsion systems in ground test and flight
• Identifying, assessing, and helping mitigate hardware and operational risks associated with components, systems, and interfaces
• Providing real-time support to customer tests, flight, and anomaly resolution efforts
• Participating in technical interchange meetings, hardware reviews, flight data reviews, and other activities to assess flight readiness of propulsion systems
• Aiding in experimentation and infrastructure builds for propulsion testing
• Participating in multidisciplinary engineering and project teams
• Preparing reports and presentations to communicate results and recommendations to Aerospace program offices, government personnel, and other customers

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements for the Senior Member of Technical Staff - Propulsion Engineering:

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or equivalent
• Five years of applicable professional or educational experience
• Knowledge of fundamental and advanced engineering principles in aerospace, mechanical, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics as applied to the design, evaluation, and optimization of propulsion and propellant systems
• Experience performing in-depth, independent analyses to assess system margins and effectively troubleshoot technical anomalies
• Experience with the design, development, qualification, and acceptance requirements of liquid rocket engines
• Proficiency with standard office software, engineering tools, and scientific/technical programming environments and languages, including MATLAB and Python
• Willingness to travel domestically and/or internationally approximately 20% of the time to support customer needs
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance issued by the U.S. government; U.S. citizenship is required

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Engineering Specialist - Propulsion Engineering:

• Advanced degree in a STEM field or equivalent
• Eight years of applicable professional or educational experience
• Experience evaluating and contributing to the development of new propulsion systems and advanced technologies
• Experience as a key technical point of contact during project team activities and technical reviews

How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Experience with combustion/reacting flows, turbomachinery, rotordynamics, rocket engine testing, properties of engineering materials, and/or propulsion system engineering
• Experience working on thermal-fluid and/or propulsion system testing or experimentation
• Ability to analyze high sample rate datasets using frequency and order domain techniques, with proficiency in tools and software for spectral analysis
• Adeptness at leveraging digital engineering techniques to enhance efficiency in aerospace system development and verification processes
• Experience in aerospace industry project management, including working closely with customers and/or contractors

We offer a competitive compensation package where you'll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills.
(Min - Max)
$100,300.00 - $175,900.00
Pay Basis: Annual
Leadership Competencies
Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees
During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.
Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan - Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other-the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you're an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at peoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org . You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.