2026 Propulsion Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) is a federally funded research and development center dedicated to space programs. This role is located in El Segundo, CA, and requires a U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance. What You’ll Be Doing Assisting in the evaluation of propulsion system design, performance, and applications. Developing and applying new and existing tools and analyses to assess the performance of space propulsion systems in ground test and flight. Identifying, assessing, and mitigating hardware and operational risks associated with components, systems, and interfaces. Providing real‑time support for customer tests, flights, and anomaly resolution efforts. Participating in multidisciplinary teams, including technical interchange meetings, hardware reviews, flight data reviews, and other activities to assess flight readiness of propulsion systems. Assisting with propulsion laboratory experimental efforts, including test execution, data analysis, and design upgrades. Preparing reports and presentations to communicate results and recommendations to aerospace program offices, government personnel, and other customers. Corporate Skills You’ll Bring Strong written and oral communication skills. Effective teamwork in a collaborative environment. Organizational, time‑management, and project‑management skills. Flexibility and adaptability to changing organizational needs. Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts with internal and external stakeholders. Minimum Requirements Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical, Materials Science, Physics, or a related field (conferred or pursued within the last 12months). 0–1 year industry work experience. Knowledge of engineering principles in aerospace, mechanical, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics as applied to propulsion and propellant systems. Ability to conduct thorough independent analyses on deep technical challenges. Readiness to engage in technical discussions, present analyses, and contribute ideas in collaborative settings. Proficiency with standard office software, engineering tools, and scientific/technical programming environments and languages. Willingness to travel domestically and/or internationally ~20% of the time. Bonus Qualifications Ph.D. in a related field. Active security clearance. Experience with combustion/reacting flows, turbomachinery, rotordynamics, rocket engine/motor testing, material properties, or propulsion system engineering. Hands‑on experience with thermal‑fluid and/or propulsion system testing or experimentation. Advanced proficiency with Python and/or MATLAB. Experience analyzing high‑sample‑rate datasets using frequency and order domain techniques, including spectral analysis. Knowledge of digital engineering techniques and applications. Benefits Competitive salary within $100,000–$140,000 annually. Comprehensive health care and wellness plans. Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation. Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options. 401(k) plan with company match. Flexible spending accounts. Variable pay program for exceptional contributions. Relocation assistance. Professional growth and development programs. Education assistance programs. Inclusive work environment. Equal Opportunity Commitment Equality and inclusiveness are central to our practice. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender, disability, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, or any characteristic protected by state or federal law. Applicants with disabilities or veterans requiring assistance with the application process may contact our accommodations team. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Aerospace Corporation