Propulsion Mechanical Engineer

The role

Hop Aero is hiring a Propulsion Mechanical Engineer to own the development of e-pumps and other mechanical systems for rocket propulsion at Hop Aero.

What you will own

• Serve as the responsible engineer for all electric-pump and associated high-speed rotating-machinery matters.

• Design propulsion component interfaces and sealing surfaces such as flanges and mounting points.

• Design pump mechanical components, including impellers, inducers, volutes, housings, shafts, bearings and seals.

• Integrate motors, inverters, controllers and associated electrical systems.

• Perform hydraulic, cavitation, rotordynamic, structural and thermal analyses.

• Define mechanical, fluid, electrical and software interfaces with the engine and vehicle teams.

• Develop cost-effective manufacturing and supplier strategies.

• Plan and execute e-pump testing.

• Own electric-pump risks through design reviews and test-readiness reviews.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to execute in a similar role.

• 5–10 years of relevant experience with centrifugal pumps, high-speed rotating equipment, or other relevant fluid machinery.

• Strong understanding of pump hydraulics, cavitation, rotordynamics, bearings, seals, and balancing.

• Experience handling commonly used rocket propellants, including both storable and cryogenic.

• Experience designing, building, and testing rotating hardware.

• Experience working directly with machine shops and manufacturing suppliers.

• Ability to interpret pressure, flow, vibration, temperature, current, and speed data.

• Ability to work directly with propulsion, fluids, avionics, manufacturing, and test teams.

• Willingness to be highly hands-on in a small, fast-moving hardware organization.

Nice-to-have

• Experience integrating high-power-density motors and inverters.

• Experience with high-speed rotating equipment including shafts, seals, and bearings.

• Experience with additively manufactured impellers, volutes, or housings.

• Experience transitioning development hardware into repeatable flight hardware.

• Prior work at a fast-moving startup.

Hop Aero will only consider U.S. persons as defined by ITAR for this role. Hop Aero will not sponsor visas for this role.