Junior Propulsion Component Engineer
Junior Propulsion Component Engineer at Amca — El Segundo, CA, US
- Company: Amca
- Location: El Segundo, CA, US
- Salary: $100,000–$130,000 a year
- Posted: 2026-07-16
About this role
There was a time when all of America believed that the future of the physical world could be radically different. The engineers of the mid-1900s put a man on the moon in eight years, designed and built planes and submarines from scratch in under three, and conceived of building things we wouldn’t even be able to dream up today.
Today, the last of the engineers who imagined and built these systems are retiring. As they go, we lose not only the engineering knowledge gained from their decades of imagination and trial-and-error, but also the spirit that made that imagination possible.
Amca is working day-in and day-out to restore America’s ability to engineer anything that our critical systems depend on, and reinvigorate the cycle of creation that allows imagination to shape physical reality. We rapidly develop and manufacture new critical components and subsystems required to build and sustain the planes, military vehicles, and core infrastructure America needs. By restoring the capability of our antiquated supply chains, we increase the country’s capacity to imagine and realize new systems, and make a physical world that looks very different from today.
Overview
The Junior Propulsion Component Engineer supports the design and development of Amca's propulsion control hardware under the direction of senior engineers. You will contribute to the design of valves, regulators, actuators, and manifolds, run analysis, and produce drawings and models. This is an entry-level design role built to grow an engineer into an independent contributor on propulsion component programs.
Responsibilities
Design Support
- Support the design of propulsion components and assemblies under the guidance of senior engineers.
- Build CAD models and detailed drawings, applying GD&T under review.
- Perform hand calculations and basic analysis for flow, pressure drop, and sizing.
Analysis and Documentation
- Assist with analytical and CFD studies and help reduce results into usable design guidance.
- Draft portions of requirements documents, interface control documents, and technical data packages.
- Maintain design files and support configuration management.
Collaboration and Development
- Work with test and manufacturing teams to understand build and qualification feedback.
- Support troubleshooting and data collection on design and field issues.
- Build propulsion component design fundamentals through mentorship and design reviews.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 0 to 2 years of engineering experience, including internships or co-ops.
- Working knowledge of fluid dynamics, hydraulics, or pneumatics fundamentals.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD (Creo, SolidWorks, or NX) and a working understanding of GD&T.
- Strong analytical skills and a willingness to learn on complex hardware.
Preferred Qualifications
- Coursework or project experience in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, or fluid power.
- Exposure to CFD tools such as ANSYS Fluent.
- Internship or project experience in aerospace, defense, or high-reliability hardware.
- Familiarity with engineering drawings and technical data packages.
Annual Salary Range
$100,000—$130,000 USD
This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a US person as: any individual who is granted U.S. citizenship; or. any individual who is granted U.S. permanent residence ("Green Card" holder); or. any individual who is granted status as a "protected person" under 8 U.S.C 1324b(a)(3).
The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America prohibits discrimination or harassment based on the following categories: race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.
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