Propulsion Engineer Jobs
Propulsion Engineer jobs are open across aerospace, defense, and automotive industries, from entry-level and associate roles to principal and lead engineer positions, with specializations in rocket propulsion, combustion systems, and electric propulsion. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 225+ Propulsion Engineer jobs
ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Alpha Engines team is responsible for the design, integration, and operation of the Reaver and Lightning engines. As a Principal Responsible Engineer, you will work across the full lifecycle of hardware, including requirements definition, design, analysis, development, test, and qualification of the engine systems. In this role, you will lead CAD design and analysis efforts, collaborate with fabrication and integration teams to build and assemble the system, and support vehicle testing and launch operations. The Alpha Engines team requires deep technical knowledge, ownership of hardware from concept to flight, and clear communication with cross-functional partners including structures, propulsion, avionics, and vehicle systems. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who enjoys challenging assumptions, thrives in a fast-paced development environment, and seeks to make impactful contributions to Firefly’s mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Demonstrate full ownership of launch vehicle engine system hardware from concept to flight
- Serve as the propulsion representative for Alpha engine testing, stage testing, and launch operations
- Author and lead test readiness, launch readiness, and data review presentations
- Continuously build and iterate on tools to optimize efficiency, performance, and predictability of Alpha operations
- Lead development of innovative design concepts for propulsion integration and operations that reduce complexity and maximize reliability within program constraints.
- Author and present detailed design review presentations to internal and external stakeholders
- Plan, coordinate, and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware, including data analysis and reviews
- Identify system-level risks, perform trade studies, and drive decisions to ensure successful vehicle operation
- Develop and maintain automation tools and test data analysis capabilities
- Collaborate with manufacturing and integration teams to develop processes, work instructions, and test procedures, and provide direct build support
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline
- 8+ years of experience developing launch vehicle propulsion systems
- Experience testing or operating complex engineering systems
- Thorough understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics
- Deep knowledge of engineering fundamentals and a demonstrated history of applying first principles to arrive at simple, robust solutions
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and technical writing skills.
- Hands-on experience with hardware design, fabrication, and testing
- Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration, and quality control relevant to fluid components (such as machining, inspection, assembly, testing, etc.)
- Knowledge of fluid components such as valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation and experience performing fluid systems sizing analysis with such components
- Experience developing and formalizing procedures for complex, multistep, high-impact operations
- Proven ability to rapidly develop solutions with partially defined or evolving requirements
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent field
- 10+ years of experience developing launch vehicle propulsion systems
- In-depth knowledge of cryogenic, high-pressure, or high-temperature system operations
- Experience with fluid system subcomponent or pressurized component development, design, or testing (such as valves, regulators, piping systems, pumps, etc.)
- Experience in working with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), flow meters, load cells, and accelerometers
- Experience reducing the complexity of large integrated assemblies to reduce part count, cost, and lead time
- Demonstrated experience with full hardware lifecycle ownership, from blank-sheet design through full operation
Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on 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.
ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Alpha Engines team is responsible for the design, integration, and operation of the Reaver and Lightning engines. As a Principal Responsible Engineer, you will work across the full lifecycle of hardware, including requirements definition, design, analysis, development, test, and qualification of the engine systems. In this role, you will lead CAD design and analysis efforts, collaborate with fabrication and integration teams to build and assemble the system, and support vehicle testing and launch operations. The Alpha Engines team requires deep technical knowledge, ownership of hardware from concept to flight, and clear communication with cross-functional partners including structures, propulsion, avionics, and vehicle systems. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who enjoys challenging assumptions, thrives in a fast-paced development environment, and seeks to make impactful contributions to Firefly’s mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Demonstrate full ownership of launch vehicle engine system hardware from concept to flight
- Serve as the propulsion representative for Alpha engine testing, stage testing, and launch operations
- Author and lead test readiness, launch readiness, and data review presentations
- Continuously build and iterate on tools to optimize efficiency, performance, and predictability of Alpha operations
- Lead development of innovative design concepts for propulsion integration and operations that reduce complexity and maximize reliability within program constraints.
- Author and present detailed design review presentations to internal and external stakeholders
- Plan, coordinate, and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of flight hardware, including data analysis and reviews
- Identify system-level risks, perform trade studies, and drive decisions to ensure successful vehicle operation
- Develop and maintain automation tools and test data analysis capabilities
- Collaborate with manufacturing and integration teams to develop processes, work instructions, and test procedures, and provide direct build support
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline
- 8+ years of experience developing launch vehicle propulsion systems
- Experience testing or operating complex engineering systems
- Thorough understanding of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics
- Deep knowledge of engineering fundamentals and a demonstrated history of applying first principles to arrive at simple, robust solutions
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and technical writing skills.
- Hands-on experience with hardware design, fabrication, and testing
- Working knowledge of manufacturing, fabrication, integration, and quality control relevant to fluid components (such as machining, inspection, assembly, testing, etc.)
- Knowledge of fluid components such as valves, regulators, pressure transducers, tubing, pressurized hardware, seals, and instrumentation and experience performing fluid systems sizing analysis with such components
- Experience developing and formalizing procedures for complex, multistep, high-impact operations
- Proven ability to rapidly develop solutions with partially defined or evolving requirements
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent field
- 10+ years of experience developing launch vehicle propulsion systems
- In-depth knowledge of cryogenic, high-pressure, or high-temperature system operations
- Experience with fluid system subcomponent or pressurized component development, design, or testing (such as valves, regulators, piping systems, pumps, etc.)
- Experience in working with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation including pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), flow meters, load cells, and accelerometers
- Experience reducing the complexity of large integrated assemblies to reduce part count, cost, and lead time
- Demonstrated experience with full hardware lifecycle ownership, from blank-sheet design through full operation
Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on 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.
Propulsion Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
See All 225+ Propulsion Engineer Jobs
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Find Propulsion Engineer JobsPropulsion Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Blue Origin17
- Northrop Grumman14
- Impulse Space12
- SpaceX9
- Amazon8
Top Industries Hiring
- Aerospace & Defense
- Automotive
- Science & Research
- Retail
- Airlines
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in propulsion engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree or higher in aerospace, mechanical, or chemical engineering
- Experience with propulsion system design, analysis, or testing in industry or research
- Proficiency in CFD tools such as ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or equivalent combustion simulation software
- Hands-on experience with engine test stand operations, data acquisition, and performance analysis
- Familiarity with propellant handling, safety protocols, and AIAA or MIL-SPEC standards
- Active or eligible U.S. security clearance preferred for defense and government contract positions
Tips for Your Propulsion Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to propulsion disciplines
Hiring managers scan for specific propulsion keywords like combustion modeling, nozzle design, or electric propulsion. Match your resume language to each posting's technical stack so your experience registers quickly against automated screening tools.
Quantify test and validation outcomes
Propulsion roles emphasize empirical results. Replace vague project descriptions with measurable outcomes, such as thrust improvements, fuel efficiency gains, or cycle time reductions from engine test campaigns, to give reviewers concrete evidence of your engineering impact.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists propulsion engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by clearance requirements early
Many defense and space propulsion roles require an active or eligible security clearance. Check clearance requirements before applying so you spend time only on roles your current status can support, and flag your clearance level prominently on your resume.
Prepare for technical case interviews on propulsion cycles
Expect whiteboard or take-home problems on thermodynamic cycles, nozzle performance, or propellant mass fractions. Refresh your Tsiolkovsky equation derivations and be ready to walk through trade studies aloud, showing your reasoning as clearly as your answers.
Negotiate based on system complexity, not just title
Propulsion compensation varies significantly by the complexity of systems you've owned, whether small thrusters or full launch vehicle engines. Frame your negotiation around the propulsive stages and mission classes you've worked on, not only your years of experience.
Propulsion Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most propulsion engineers?
The companies hiring the most propulsion engineers right now include Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, and Impulse Space, with the largest share of openings in California, Washington, and Colorado, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Aerospace primes and commercial launch companies tend to post the highest volume of roles.
How many propulsion engineer jobs are remote?
About 33% of propulsion engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, which is lower than most engineering fields because the discipline depends heavily on lab access, test stand operations, and hardware integration. Systems engineering, analysis, and modeling roles within propulsion are most likely to offer remote or hybrid flexibility.
How do you become a propulsion engineer?
You typically start with a bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or chemical engineering, then build hands-on experience through internships, cooperative programs, or graduate research focused on combustion, fluid dynamics, or propulsion systems. Many roles require familiarity with CFD tools and engine test methods. A master's degree strengthens your candidacy for research-heavy or advanced development positions at major aerospace organizations.
How do you get hired as a propulsion engineer with little experience?
Target roles explicitly labeled associate or junior propulsion engineer, which are designed for candidates transitioning from academic or internship environments. Highlight university capstone projects, thesis work, or research assistantships involving propellants, combustion rigs, or rocket test campaigns. Demonstrating you can interpret test data and contribute to a design-analysis cycle matters more to most hiring teams than commercial project years alone.
What does the propulsion engineer interview process look like?
The process typically involves an initial recruiter screen followed by a technical phone or video interview where you'll walk through your design or testing experience. Later rounds usually include a panel interview with engineers covering propulsion fundamentals, a take-home or whiteboard problem on system performance or thermodynamics, and for senior roles, a presentation of past project work. Background and clearance checks follow for defense-related positions.
Where can I find and apply to propulsion engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to propulsion engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your discipline, experience level, and location preference, then apply directly to each posting that fits.
See All 225+ Propulsion Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Propulsion Engineer Jobs