Cowboy Space
TCA & Thrusters Engineer
$130K–$180K
Kent, Washington · On-site · Full-time · Posted Sep 2, 2026
- Experience
- 5+ years in mechanical design for manufacturing and rapid prototyping; hands-on ownership of the rocket engine injector lifecycle.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or an equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree.
- Visa sponsorship
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
About the job
Own rocket engine injector and Thrust Chamber Assembly hardware from initial design and analysis through manufacturing, testing, redesign, and flight operation.
What you'll do
- Design and analyze TCA piece parts using physics-based architecture trades and first-principles sizing.
- Select manufacturing methods and lead hardware builds and iterative development.
- Plan and execute component and engine hotfire tests, analyze results, and drive redesigns.
What they ask for
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or an equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree.
- Strong command of first-principles thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and structural mechanics.
- 5+ years in mechanical design for manufacturing and rapid prototyping.
- Hands-on ownership of the rocket engine injector lifecycle.
Nice to have
- Multiple cradle-to-grave cycles owning rocket engine injectors and/or TCA components.
- Analysis experience with Ansys Mechanical, Fluent, and/or Thermal Desktop.
Pay
USD $130,000 – $180,000 annually (base salary)
Tools
Ansys Mechanical, Fluent, Thermal Desktop
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative