Senior Propulsion Components Engineer I/II

About The Role

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

SPACE SYSTEMS

The Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.

Senior Propulsion Components Engineer I/II

We are currently seeking a Senior Propulsion Components Engineer I/II for our propulsion engineering team based out of Long Beach, CA. As a Propulsion Components Engineer, you are responsible for system-level and component-level ownership of space systems propulsion and fluidic development. These teams support our Space Systems division, and lead cutting-edge programs for civil, commercial, and defense customers.

• What You’ll Get To Do:
• Owning development of new or existing products or systems, acting as technical lead to guide team through end-to-end development process.
• Conceptual and detailed designs in CAD for propulsion system components as well as performance calculations, and analysis.
• Review and approval of others’ drawings, 3D PMI, reports, and specifications.
• Test planning, setup, instrumentation, execution, and data analysis.
• Communicating with project stakeholders internal and external to the team.
• Techical risk-based decision making to the right/best solution when faced with an engineering challenge.
• Project management including schedule building and maintenance, identifying top priority items, tasking of other engineers and technicians, and communication of status to leadership and other teams.
• Mentorship and coaching of people within the team on technical and professional development.
• Contributing to engineering process development and documentation at Rocket Lab related to areas of experience.

Qualifications for Senior Propulsion Components Engineer I

• 5+ years of experience in propulsion system development, or equivalent high-performance field.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical engineering discipline).
• Detailed mechanical design experience using NX (preferred) or equivalent industry standard CAD software and Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar.
• Track record of design reviews and approving release of flight parts, qual reports and decisions for flight hardware.
• Experience with end-to-end development process including gathering requirements, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well within a team environment.
• Hands-on integration and testing experience (ideally using NI equipment and software).
• Experience working on propulsion systems utilizing different storable propellants, such as electrical and chemical.
• US citizenship and willingness to obtain a security clearance required, due to program requirements.

Qualifications for Senior Propulsion Components Engineer II

• 8+ years of experience in propulsion system development, or equivalent high-performance field.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical engineering discipline).
• Detailed mechanical design experience using NX (preferred) or equivalent industry standard CAD software and Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar.
• Track record of design reviews and approving release of flight parts, qual reports and decisions for flight hardware.
• Experience with end-to-end development process including gathering requirements, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well within a team environment.
• Hands-on integration and testing experience (ideally using NI equipment and software).
• Experience working on propulsion systems utilizing different storable propellants, such as electrical and chemical.
• US citizenship and willingness to obtain a security clearance required, due to program requirements.

Qualifications That Would Be Nice To Have

• A genuine passion for engineering, curious mindset, and willingness to learn.
• Comfortable working with high levels of ambiguity. Makes decisions using basic engineering principles, available literature and standards, technical risk assessments, test data, and physics-based models.
• Practice in identifying the necessary steps to achieve high level technical goals, scheduling them in a plan, and managing delivery against that plan.
• Experience developing requirement and verification sets, as well as writing test plans, performing testing, and writing test reports.
• Capabilities using Python for data manipulation and post-processing.
• Detailed mechanical design experience using NX (preferred) or equivalent industry standard CAD software.
• Experience with GD&T and engineering drawings.
• Experience using Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar.
• Experience using National Instruments data acquisition systems.
• Experience with testing and troubleshooting flight hardware.
• Masters or PhD.

What To Expect

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Important Information

• FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.
• FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY: For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.