2026 Propulsion Engineer

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. 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; 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. The Solid Motors and Propulsion Technologies section is looking for a candidate who will assess and analyze solid rocket motor internal ballistics, solid propellant combustion, ablative nozzle erosion, combustion stability & acoustic modeling, and motor performance; develop analytical tools to integrate component-level analyses to evaluate rocket stage performance; and assist in the execution, design, and data analysis of laboratory experimentation of rocket propulsion technologies.  In this position, you will perform technical evaluations and assessments of propulsion systems for high-priority space missions. Your work may 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. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA. 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 Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed  What Corporate Skills You’ll Bring  Strong written and oral communication skills  Must work well in a team environment  Possess organizational, time management and project management skills  Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational needs Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations  What You Need to be Successful Minimum Requirements: Master's degree from an accredited college/university program in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical, or Materials Science Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months) 0-1 year of industry work experience Knowledge of fundamental and advanced engineering principles in aerospace, mechanical, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics as applied to the design, evaluation, and optimization of propulsion and propellant systems Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough independent analyses on deep technical challenges Readiness to engage in technical discussions and reviews, 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 approximately 20% of the time to support customer needs This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. Transcripts from an accredited college/university How You Can Stand Out It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:  Ph.D. degree from an accredited college/university program in Aerospace, Mechanical, Chemical, or Materials Science Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months) 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 Demonstrated ability to analyze high sample rate datasets using frequency and order domain techniques, inclu