Propulsion Engineer (Engine Layout RE)

Posted:
9/3/2024, 10:16:52 AM

Location(s):
Washington, United States ⋅ Kent, Washington, United States

Experience Level(s):
Mid Level ⋅ Senior

Field(s):
Mechanical Engineering

A thriving economy in space is needed to make life on Earth more vibrant, sustainable, and equitable. Space technology will enable global access to information, solutions to climate change, answers to global food security, products that transform healthcare, clean energy production, and more. Today, rocket launch options are slow, expensive, and unreliable. Stoke is building the world’s most efficient fully and rapidly reusable rocket designed to fly daily that will radically increase access to space and open up the space economy to safeguard our precious home, Earth.  

Description

Fully reusable launch vehicles are the key to seamlessly connecting Earth and space. As the Engine Layout RE (a.k.a. Responsible Engineer), you will have extreme ownership over all aspects of the Stoke’s engine system design, layout, buildup, and integration for our full-flow staged combustion first stage engine. You’ll have the opportunity to drive system level design trades for our engine, develop the engine system layout, and help us achieve first flight with this rapidly reusable engine. You’ll own the whole engine CAD model, and ship fully-integrated engines ready for hotfire.

Responsibilities

  • Own the integrated engine CAD; unite component designers to develop a full flow staged combustion engine design; and bring turbomachinery, combustion, thrust chamber, avionics, pneumatics, TVC, and valves together into a clean and efficient engine system design.
  • Responsible for maintaining a functioning engine system layout and consistent interfaces while lower-level component designs iterate during the development test campaigns.
  • Drive the design and architecture of numerous rocket engine system components and interfaces as part of the engine assembly, including: heat exchangers, propellant inlet lines, flexible lines, pneumatics, gimbal, thrust-vector-control, instrumentation, tubing, pressurization systems, valves, avionics, and engine eye-ball seals.
  • Develop and maintain robust vehicle interfaces and engine-vehicle installation approaches, aiding in designing the aft section of our rapidly reusable rocket.
  • Develop and maintain robust vehicle interfaces and engine-vehicle installation approaches, aiding in designing the aft section of our rapidly reusable rocket.
  • Develop and help execute the engine build plan, procuring and managing ancillary hardware for engine builds.
  • Track risks and execute appropriate mitigation plans.

Qualifications

  • Extensive experience with CAD tools and configuration management (Siemens NX and Teamcenter preferred).
  • Experience managing large CAD assemblies and associated drawings.
  • Fundamentals in GD&T, tolerance stackups, and material selections especially for oxygen compatibility.
  • Fundamentals in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, compressible flow, and cryogenics.
  • Experience with detailed mechanical design including machined parts, additive parts, weldments, fasteners, seals, and especially assemblies.
  • Proficiency with mentoring and training designers.
  • Knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals, and ability to apply that knowledge in practical ways to a fast-paced development program.
  • Hands on experience performing fabrication, assembly, and/or testing.
  • 5+ years of experience in design, build, and testing of rocket engine systems.
  • Ability to lead.
  • Ability to follow.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication.
  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or similar.
  • Willing to relocate to Seattle, WA.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance
  • 401(k) match
  • Paid time off
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Equity

Compensation

Target Levels:

  • Level 3 Range: $123,000 – $184,400
  • Level 4 Range: $144,100 - $240,100

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis. 

Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

Equal Opportunity 

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status.  It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII.   It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring. 

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company.  Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations.  Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.