Propulsion Engineer
Leander, TX | Onsite | Full-Time
About Wild West Systems
Born in America. Built for the Future Warfighter.
Robotics are reshaping the battlefield, and yesterday’s weapon systems are outdated, expensive, and built for the past.
Wild West Systems is building the universal weapons layer for robotics: precision weapon systems designed to make autonomous platforms more capable, more lethal, and fully reusable. We’ve built a team of leading engineers from companies including Tesla, Apple (Special Projects Group), SpaceX, and more to rethink what these platforms are capable of.
This is the Wild West.
Want to keep building yesterday’s systems? Don’t join.
General Qualifications (All Roles)
- America matters. The mission matters. You must believe deeply in both.
- High-agency self-starter who moves fast and delivers without waiting for instructions.
- Extreme ownership. No excuses. No “that’s not my job.”
- Strong judgment and a relentless bias for action.
- Comfortable operating without a playbook, solving hard problems, and adapting as priorities change.
- Low ego, high standards, and committed to winning as a team.
- ITAR Requirement: To conform with U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorization from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.
The Role
- Translate mission requirements into propulsion and aerodynamic design parameters.
- Perform rapid engineering analysis using:
- Hand calculations
- Simplified analytical models
- Simulation tools
- CFD
- Design and evaluate propulsion systems including:
- Solid rocket motors
- Nozzle geometry
- Propellant grain geometry
- Pressure and burn rate behavior
- Thermal and structural loads
- Model internal ballistics and pressure dynamics in solid propellant systems.
- Optimize propellant core geometry to achieve target thrust profiles and burn behavior.
- Analyze external aerodynamics of flight vehicles across subsonic through supersonic regimes.
- Calculate and validate:
- Drag components (base, form, friction, shock)
- Aerodynamic coefficients
- Center of pressure vs center of gravity relationships
- Flight stability and control behavior
- Develop and run CFD simulations to validate design assumptions.
- Write code to automate analysis, simulation workflows, and performance modeling.
- Work closely with manufacturing, systems, and testing teams to translate designs into real hardware.
- Support flight tests and ground tests, diagnose performance issues, and iterate quickly.
Requirements
Core Technical Requirements
- CFD modeling (ANSYS Fluent preferred)
- Coding for engineering analysis (Python or MATLAB preferred)
- CAD modeling proficiency (SolidWorks, Onshape, or equivalent)
- Solid mechanical engineering fundamentals
- Strong understanding of compressible flow, gas dynamics, and heat transfer
- Ability to perform first-order engineering calculations quickly and accurately
- Experience translating performance requirements into engineering design constraints
Propulsion Domain Experience
- Internal ballistics and solid propellant behavior
- Burn rate dynamics and pressure coupling
- Solid rocket motor design including:
- Nozzle geometry
- Ignition systems
- Insulation and materials
- Structural analysis
- Propellant grain/core geometry optimization
- Pressure vessel design and analysis
- High-temperature gas flow and thermal loads
- Familiarity with solid propellant formulation is a strong plus
Aerodynamics Domain Experience
- External aerodynamics of flight vehicles
- Missile or projectile design
- Flight mechanics and trajectory modeling
- Center of pressure / center of gravity relationships
- Aerodynamic coefficient modeling
- Subsonic through supersonic flow regimes
- Drag component analysis
- Flight envelope behavior
- Experience with guidance, navigation, and control systems is beneficial but not required
Experience Requirements
- 3–5 years of relevant engineering experience with a Bachelor's degree, OR
- 1–2 years of relevant experience with a Master's or PhD
- More experience is welcome, but the most important qualities are:
- Strong fundamentals
- Intellectual curiosity
- Ability to learn quickly
- Willingness to solve hard problems
Why Wild West
- Build the whole thing. Own your work from first principles through design, prototype, test, iteration, and production. What you build will leave the screen and enter the real world.
- Build where the hardware gets built. Engineering, fabrication, manufacturing, and testing happen under one roof, so ideas move fast.
- Make an impact from day one. Your decisions will shape the product, the roadmap, and the company itself.
- Move at mission speed. Work with urgency, solve hard problems, and turn ambitious ideas into field-ready systems.
- Share in what you build. Every employee has the opportunity to own stock options and participate in the company’s success.
- Work with exceptional people. Join a team defined by high standards, low ego, direct communication, and relentless execution.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation: $160,000 to $175,000 base salary
- Equity: Stock options included with every offer
- Medical: 100% of employee premiums covered, 90% for spouse/family
- Dental & vision: 100% of premiums covered
- 401(k): Company plan with match
- Unlimited PTO
- Relocation support: Available for candidates relocating to the Austin area
Location and Eligibility
This is a full-time, onsite role at our facility in Leander, Texas, approximately 30 minutes from downtown Austin. The role also requires significant travel, around 25% of the time.
ITAR Eligibility: To conform with U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), refugee, asylee, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorization from the U.S. Department of State.
Wild West Systems uses E-Verify to confirm employment authorization.
Direct applicants only. We do not work with staffing companies for this role.
