2025 Propulsion Engineer - Member of Technical Staff

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.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

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 you will perform technical evaluation and assessment of propulsion systems for high-priority space missions.  Your work will potentially 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.

Work Model

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA, offering a hybrid work model that combines at least three regular onsite workdays and some remote flexibility as the 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

• Developing new and existing 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 test, flight, and anomaly resolution efforts

• Participating in technical interchange meetings, hardware reviews, flight data reviews, and other similar activities to assess flight readiness of propulsion systems

• 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: 

• Masters degree from an accredited college/university program in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or other discipline. (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months) 

• 0-1 years of industry experience

• Completed coursework or professional experience in the following:

  • Thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer

  • Fluid mechanics, including compressible flow

  • Propulsion system design, combustion/reacting flows, or mechanical systems

  • Fundamentals of structural analysis and materials

  • Engineering design

• Experience with and/or knowledge of rocket propulsion system design and modeling

• Proficiency with standard office software, engineering tools, and scientific/technical programming environments and languages such as MATLAB and Python

• Willingness to travel domestically to support customer needs, approximately 10-15% of time

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance

How You Can Stand Out 

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• PhD degree in an accredited program studying Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field. (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months) 

• Experience with spacecraft propulsion systems

• Experience in combustion/reacting flows, turbomachinery, rotordynamics, rocket engine testing, , properties of engineering materials, and/or propulsion system engineering

• Experience with or knowledge of the design, analysis, testing, and/or operation of solid rocket motors

• Familiarity with analysis of high sample rate datasets

• Familiarity with digital engineering concepts and processes

• Experience working 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)

$86,000 - $105,000

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 diverse 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/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. 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 ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.