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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Components Engineer to join the propulsion engineering team in Long Beach, CA. You will own system-level and component-level development of space systems propulsion and fluidic subsystems supporting civil, commercial, and defense customers.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning end-to-end development of new or existing propulsion products and systems, serving as technical lead
- Performing conceptual and detailed CAD design of propulsion components with performance calculations and analysis
- Reviewing and approving engineering drawings, 3D PMI, reports, and specifications from team members
- Planning and executing propulsion system tests, including instrumentation setup and data analysis
- Communicating with internal and external project stakeholders
- Making technical risk-based decisions to solve engineering challenges
- Managing project schedules, prioritizing work, tasking engineers and technicians, and reporting status to leadership
- Mentoring and coaching team members on technical and professional development
- Establishing and maintaining engineering excellence standards through documentation, training, and work review
- Contributing to Rocket Lab's engineering process development and documentation
Required qualifications:
- 5+ years in propulsion system development or equivalent high-performance engineering field
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or related engineering discipline
- Proficiency with NX CAD or equivalent industry-standard software and PLM systems (Teamcenter, Windchill, or similar)
- Track record of design reviews and flight hardware release approvals
- Experience with complete development cycles: requirements gathering, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Hands-on integration and testing experience (NI equipment preferred)
- Experience with storable propellants (electrical and chemical propulsion systems)
- US citizenship and willingness to obtain security clearance (required)
Desirable qualifications include passion for engineering, comfort with ambiguity, ability to manage technical goals and schedules, and experience developing requirements, verification sets, test plans, and test reports.
