Solid Rocket Motor Engineer
Raydar
Solid Rocket Motor Engineer
Raydar
AI-powered recruiting agency for tech roles
Raydar · Los Angeles, United States · Full-time · Posted 2026-10-13
Salary: USD 180,000–220,000
Workplace: on_site
About the company
Our client is a defense technology company.
The role
Raydar is recruiting for this role on behalf of our client. Take ownership of propulsion development for a range of vehicle programs, moving designs from early concept through static firing and flight trials. Partner with colleagues in mechanical, materials and manufacturing disciplines, and help shape a new propulsion group in a fast-paced, hands-on setting.
What you'll do
- Lead motor architecture, grain geometry and internal ballistics work across several vehicle programs.
- Partner with mechanical, propellant and production engineers on motor configurations and new formulations.
- Fabricate motors and carry out static firings and flight trials at remote desert sites on a frequent schedule.
- Review measured results after each firing to refine predictive models and revise the design.
- Prepare rapid concept studies for additional motor sizes to support new business opportunities.
- Help establish and grow a propulsion team as its first dedicated motor specialist.
What we're looking for
- At least 5 years of practical experience developing solid motors, ideally carrying a design from early grain concept through static firing.
- Working knowledge of composite propellant motor design.
- A bachelor's degree in an engineering or physical science discipline such as aerospace, mechanical or chemical engineering, or physics.
- Comfort with quick build-and-test iteration in a zero-to-one setting.
- Proven ability to hit performance goals using readily available materials and conventional formulations.
- Familiarity with airframes and the vehicle systems that a solid motor drives.
- Fluency with ballistic simulation and thermochemical modeling tools.
- Practical test experience, including planning measurement setups, drafting test procedures and processing results afterward.
- Daily use of modern AI tools in your workflow.
- Ability to work on-site five days a week.
Bonus points
- Experience with motor flight testing.
- Background in a corporate or commercial engineering setting.
- Prior work at a missile developer or a startup building solid motors.
Compensation and benefits
- Base salary: USD 180,000 to 220,000 per year
- Equity
- Relocation support
Location and work model
- Los Angeles, CA, United States
- On-site, 5 days per week in office
- Periodic weekend travel to test sites and suppliers
- Full-time
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Raydar is an AI-powered talent acquisition firm that serves tech-focused organizations on a contingency basis, charging client companies only after a successful hire. It uses proprietary AI to identify a large pool of candidates and conducts a short 15-minute AI-driven interview (recorded and transcribed) before human recruiters review materials, provide interview prep, and assist with offers and negotiations. What sets it apart is the blend of automated sourcing and screening with hands-on human oversight and tailored client support. Its goal is to help organizations hire more efficiently by speeding up sourcing while maintaining thorough evaluation and negotiation assistance.
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