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Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer to join the propulsion engineering team in Long Beach, CA. You will own system-level and component-level development of spacecraft propulsion and fluidic systems, serving civil, commercial, and defense customers including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning end-to-end development of new or existing propulsion products and systems, acting as technical lead
- Performing conceptual and detailed performance calculations, systems modeling, analysis, and design
- Gathering, defining, and managing technical requirements
- Leading systems engineering activities and providing technical guidance to the team
- Planning and executing tests, including instrumentation setup and data analysis
- Communicating with internal and external stakeholders
- Making technical risk-based decisions to identify optimal engineering solutions
- 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 excellence standards through documentation, training, and peer review
- Contributing to Rocket Lab's engineering process development and documentation
Required qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or related engineering discipline
- 5+ years of propulsion system development or high-performance engineering experience
- Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility
- U.S. citizenship (program requirement)
- Expertise in propulsion system modeling, static/transient analysis, and model validation using tools like Amesim, EcosimPro, Simulink, or Simscape
- Experience with complete development lifecycle: requirements, design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing
- Knowledge of Systems Engineering V methodology and risk-based decision making
- Experience with storable propellants (electrical and chemical)
Desirable qualifications include hands-on engineering skills, comfort with ambiguity, Python proficiency, NX CAD experience, GD&T knowledge, and familiarity with Jama, Teamcenter, or similar PLM systems.
