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Salary: USD 115,200 - 158,400 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer I to join the Space Systems division's space vehicle design team in Long Beach, CA. This role supports civil, commercial, and defense customers on cutting-edge space programs.
You will be responsible for developing high-performance and lightweight satellite deployment systems, mechanisms, and satellite bus configurations. Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting the Business Development team with proposals and mission concepts
- Developing high-performance and lightweight satellite systems, mechanisms, and satellite bus configurations for customers
- Developing concepts and satellite configurations for high-value science and interplanetary missions
- Defining mechanisms for modern satellite systems and buses
- Owning component designs from conceptual design through production, test, and operation
- Performing hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA) to drive design decisions
- Leading key component design, manufacturing, and test reviews
- Creating and maintaining product definition through CAD, production drawings, and test and operations procedures
- Managing development schedules, vendors, budgets, and other project deliverables
- Working hands-on with flight hardware and driving technical development of Space Systems missions
Rocket Lab's Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration and 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.
QUALIFICATIONS (Required):
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline
- 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience
- Experience with CAD modeling and drawing
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements (ITAR compliance)
QUALIFICATIONS (Preferred):
- Master's or PhD in aerospace or mechanical engineering
- Spacecraft/satellite design experience
- Rapid conceptual design iteration experience
- Exceptional mechanical mechanism problem-solving skills
- Hands-on development and testing experience
- Experience with analysis and interpretation of test data (thermal, vibration)
- Ability to take a product from concept through to production with minimal supervision
- Highly self-motivated and able to work autonomously
- Ability to apply GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) to component designs
- Experience developing satellite deployment systems
- General spacecraft systems engineering knowledge and experience with requirements assessments and interface control document generation
