Senior Propulsion Component Engineer

Senior Propulsion Component Engineer at Amca — El Segundo, CA, US

  • Company: Amca
  • Location: El Segundo, CA, US
  • Salary: $150,000–$250,000 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 Senior Propulsion Component Engineer owns the design of Amca's propulsion control hardware, taking components and assemblies from concept through qualification. You will lead the design of valves, regulators, actuators, pumps, and manifolds for hydraulic and pneumatic systems in demanding aerospace and defense environments. This is a hands-on design role for an engineer who can pair strong fluid dynamics fundamentals with practical, manufacturable hardware design.

Responsibilities

Design and Analysis

  • Lead the design of propulsion components and assemblies, including valves, regulators, servovalves, actuators, pumps, and manifolds.
  • Perform hydraulic and pneumatic analysis covering flow, pressure drop, response, and thermal behavior across the operating envelope.
  • Develop analytical and CFD models to predict performance, size components, and guide design decisions.
  • Select materials, seals, and surface treatments for fluid compatibility, pressure, temperature, and contamination requirements.

Documentation and Data Packages

  • Produce detailed CAD models and GD&T-controlled drawings suitable for production.
  • Author design requirements, interface control documents, and complete technical data packages.
  • Maintain design records and support configuration management through the product lifecycle.

Qualification and Cross-functional Support

  • Partner with test, manufacturing, and supply chain teams from build through qualification.
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective action on design and field issues.
  • Review the work of junior engineers and mentor them on fluid design methods and standards.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline.
  • 5+ years designing propulsion systems or fluid power hardware in aerospace, defense, or a comparable high-reliability industry.
  • Strong command of propulsion components, hydraulics, and pneumatics fundamentals.
  • Proficiency in 3D CAD (Creo, SolidWorks, or NX) and GD&T.
  • Demonstrated ability to carry a design from requirements through qualification.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
  • Experience with CFD tools such as ANSYS Fluent or Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
  • Experience with servo valves, aerospace actuation, or high-pressure fluid systems.
  • Familiarity with DO-160 environmental qualification and relevant MIL-STD requirements.
  • Experience working across multiple manufacturing sites or factories.

Annual Salary Range

$150,000—$250,000 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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