10 SpaceX propulsion engineers
Manager, Propulsion Engineering, Lead Propulsion Engineer and Propulsion Engineer II are among the titles these ten SpaceX propulsion engineers hold today. A reader can learn what propulsion engineering at SpaceX involves from people who have done it.
Professionals to explore
Andrew Mabey
LinkedInExperience: Propulsion Engineer II · SpaceX
Andrew Mabey has been a Propulsion Engineer II at SpaceX since March 2026, after serving as a Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX from 2023 to 2026. The profile also lists Manufacturing Engineer II at Haas Automation, Inc. (2022–2023) and describes manufacturing engineering experience focused on CNC machining.
Brody Bishop
LinkedInExperience: Propulsion Engineer (Starship) · SpaceX
Brody Bishop has been a Propulsion Engineer (Starship) at SpaceX since October 2025, based in Brownsville, Texas, after serving as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Stanford Biomechatronics Lab from 2024 to 2025. The profile describes study in mechanical engineering at Stanford and an interest in aerospace and autonomous robotics.
Erik Little
LinkedInExperience: Senior Propulsion Engineer · SpaceX
Erik Little has been a Senior Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX since July 2026, and the profile also lists Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX from 2022 to 2026. The profile also lists Mechanical Engineer at Winchester Technologies (2020) and a project lead role with the Northeastern Unmanned Aerial Vehicle team.
John Smalley
LinkedInExperience: Propulsion Engineer II · SpaceX
John Smalley has been a Propulsion Engineer II at SpaceX since April 2026, after serving as Structures Engineer II (2025–2026) and Structures Engineer (2024–2025) at SpaceX. The profile also lists President and Lead Engineer (2022–2023) and Graduate Advisor (2023–2024) roles at Duke AERO.
Lauren Rodriguez
LinkedInExperience: Lead Propulsion Engineer · SpaceX
Lauren Rodriguez has been a Lead Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX since August 2026, based in Los Angeles. The profile also lists roles at the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab, including Propulsion Engineer (2022–2023), Chief Engineer (2021–2022) and Lead Propulsion Engineer (2020–2021).
Michael Buss
LinkedInExperience: Lead Propulsion Engineer · SpaceX
Michael Buss has been a Lead Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX since August 2024, after serving as Propulsion Engineer II (2022–2024) and Propulsion Design Engineer (2020–2022) at SpaceX. The profile also lists test operations and test equipment engineering intern roles at SpaceX in 2017 and 2019.
Nathan Berg
LinkedInExperience: Lead Propulsion Engineer · SpaceX
Nathan Berg has been a Lead Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX since June 2025, based in Brownsville, Texas, after serving as Propulsion Engineer II (2024–2025) and Propulsion Engineer (2022–2024) at SpaceX. The profile also lists an Associate Propulsion Engineer role at SpaceX in 2022.
Nikolas Struntz
LinkedInExperience: Propulsion Engineer II · SpaceX
Nikolas Struntz has been a Propulsion Engineer II at SpaceX since June 2026, and the profile also lists Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX from 2024 to 2026. The profile describes a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from UCLA with a concentration in fluid mechanics, and lists Liquid Project Engine Lead at Rocket Project at UCLA.
Riley Pratt
LinkedInExperience: Lead Propulsion Engineer, Starship · SpaceX
Riley Pratt has been Lead Propulsion Engineer, Starship at SpaceX since March 2024, after serving as Senior Propulsion Engineer, Starship (2023–2024) and Propulsion Engineer, Dragon (2019–2023) at SpaceX. The profile describes specializing in system development testing and performance analysis as a propulsion engineer.
Sebastian Carpenter
LinkedInExperience: Manager, Propulsion Engineering · SpaceX
Sebastian Carpenter has been Manager, Propulsion Engineering at SpaceX since September 2026, after serving as Lead Propulsion Engineer (2025–2026), Propulsion Engineer II (2025) and Propulsion Engineer (2024–2025) at SpaceX. The profile describes a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Product Development Engineering from the University of Southern California.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's role to your question, since design, development testing and team leadership each give a different view of propulsion work. Consider how the person reached propulsion, since engineers who came from manufacturing, structures or university rocketry teams can compare different paths into the field.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you decide what to test before committing to a propulsion design change?
- 02How do you work with manufacturing and test teams when a hardware issue appears?
- 03What changed in your day-to-day work when you moved into your current role?
Reaching SpaceX propulsion engineers
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.