It uses LOX (liquid oxygen) and RP-1 (refined kerosene) as its propellants and is the first flight-ready engine to use the electric-pump-fed cycle.

[16][17][18] As with all pump-fed engines, the Rutherford uses a rotodynamic pump to increase the pressure from the tanks to that needed by the combustion chamber.

[19] The pumps (one for the fuel and one for the oxidizer) in electric-pump feed engines are driven by an electric motor.

[19] The Rutherford engine uses dual brushless DC electric motors and a lithium polymer battery.

[20] However, the battery pack increases the weight of the complete engine and presents an energy conversion issue.