New Graduate Engineer, Mechanical

About the role

Join a top-tier engineering team at our Central Texas test facility, focusing on test operations for advanced rocket engines and spacecraft. This role involves both hands-on testing and the design and construction of ground support equipment. You will contribute to the development of systems that power, restrain, and measure the world's most powerful rocket engines.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design and execute tests for engine and component performance and durability.
• Manage entire test campaigns, including planning, system activation, operations, data review, and equipment design.
• Direct technicians in the fabrication and integration of test articles and equipment.
• Create and maintain test procedures, sequences, scripts, and software configurations.
• Operate and troubleshoot National Instruments-based data acquisition and control systems, wiring, and instrumentation.
• Manage and resolve issues with fluid and mechanical systems, including high-pressure gases, cryogenics, hypergols, and structural components.
• Operate mechanical systems such as test stand structures, heat exchangers, vacuum pumps, and fluid components.
• Automate repetitive test operations to improve efficiency and safety.
• Develop new processes to increase testing capabilities and rates while maintaining safety standards.
• Identify and resolve system flaws and hazards by collaborating with design engineers on improvements for test stands and flight hardware.
• Design and build systems for testing integrated flight vehicles, rocket engines, and components.
• Oversee engineering projects from concept through design reviews, procurement, and construction.
• Work directly with technicians to build designs and solve real-world problems.
• Collaborate with the test operations team to adjust plans for tight testing deadlines.
• Troubleshoot equipment to achieve testing goals and iterate designs for better performance and maintenance.
• Develop solutions for complex engineering needs that support test programs.
• Take a hands-on approach to rapidly emerging field projects to ensure continuous testing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ year of mechanical or fluids engineering experience through projects, research, internships, or professional roles.
• Graduating with a bachelor's, master's, or PhD degree in 2026 or 2027.

Nice to have

• Strong understanding of fluid, structural, or mechanical systems.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills in dynamic situations.
• Ability to respond positively to short deadlines.
• Hands-on experience with machining, welding, or other fabrication techniques.
• Creativity in designing for reliability, efficiency, and maintainability.
• Proactive and self-motivated approach to challenges.
• Skill in balancing cost, schedule, and complexity to find optimal solutions.
• attention to detail and understanding of system interactions.
• Experience with instrumentation, testing, data review, and model verification.
• Familiarity with high-pressure or cryogenic fluid systems and components.
• Experience with complex structural or mechanical systems and components.
• Design verification using hand calculations or complex modeling (FEA or CFD).
• Ability to produce fabrication drawings for machined or welded parts.
• Intermediate CAD skills, particularly with Siemens NX.
• Knowledge of ASME piping and pressure vessel design.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• 3+ years of engineering design experience in an industrial setting.

Skills & tools

• National Instruments DAQ systems
• CAD (Siemens NX a plus)
• FEA (a plus)
• CFD (a plus)

Practical notes

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations due to ITAR regulations.
• This role requires the ability to work independently and as part of a team, adapt to changing responsibilities, and maintain a sense of urgency.
• Availability for extended hours, weekends, and emergency response is necessary.
• Physical demands include standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting, working in cramped spaces, climbing up to 300 ft with PPE, lifting up to 25 lbs, and working in various outdoor environments (heat, cold, wind, rain) and environments with fumes, odors, and noise.

About the company

Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.