Propulsion Engineer, Test
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Robotics are reshaping the battlefield, and yesterday’s weapon systems are outdated, expensive, and built for the past.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
This role requires designing, building, and supporting propulsion and ballistic test setups, fixtures, and test rigs. You’ll also support CAD modeling, fixture design, mechanical updates, and the development of propulsion characterization and static test plans.
- Design and administer ballistic test setups, fixtures, and test rigs.
- Support CAD and mechanical design.
- Develop characterization and static test plans.
- Design, configure, and operate DAQ systems, instrumentation, and sensor integrations.
- Conduct rocket static thrust stand testing and other propulsion-related test campaigns.
- Perform data reduction, analysis, and post-test reporting.
- Support hardware manufacturing, assembly, integration, and troubleshooting.
- Create and maintain work instructions, safety procedures, and technical documentation.
- Support flight tests and ground tests, diagnose performance issues, and iterate quickly.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
- CAD modeling proficiency (SolidWorks, Onshape, or equivalent tools).
- Familiarity with instrumentation, sensors, and DAQ systems (pressure transducers, load cells, strain gauges, thermocouples, optical measurements, etc.).
- Electrical systems and wiring.
- Experience designing test fixtures, fixturing, or mechanical test rigs.
- Experience with mechanical assembly, fabrication, and hardware integration (machine shop experience a plus).
- Mechanical engineering fundamentals.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with solid rocket motors or propulsion systems (solid propellant mixing, energetics handling, and cure cycles).
- Clean room experience.
- Experience with high-speed data acquisition systems.
- Familiarity with LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, or similar analysis tools.
- Welding, machining, and fabrication experience.
- Aerospace or defense environments.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
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: $95,000 to $125,000 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.
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.
