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Salary: USD 115,200 - 172,800 / annual
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Structural Analyst I to join the Neutron program team at its Long Beach, CA headquarters. The Neutron team is responsible for developing Rocket Lab's new large rocket, including design, testing, and qualification of structures and components, as well as establishing launch pads and test sites across the United States.
In this role, you will support a high-performing propulsion engineering team covering rocket engine combustion devices, turbomachinery, and related hardware. You will drive vehicle design using analytical methods and solve complex technical problems.
Key responsibilities include:
- Create system, subassembly, and individual part analytical models
- Perform multiphysics structural, thermal, vibration, fatigue, and fracture analyses
- Collaborate with design teams to finalize hardware designs meeting vehicle requirements
- Generate and maintain comprehensive documentation of analyses, including inputs, methods, and results for hardware reviews and qualification
- Support stage, engine, and subsystem testing through data review and provide recommendations
- Develop standard practices for structural analysis and common hand calculations to accelerate hardware development
- Provide technical direction to the engineering team on high-value analysis priorities and deliverable schedules as the program evolves
Rocket Lab offers competitive base pay plus company stock ownership, an industry-leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount), comprehensive medical/dental/vision coverage, paid time off, 401(k) with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, and employee discounts.
Note: This position requires U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or eligible authorization status due to ITAR regulations governing space technology exports.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of experience performing thermal, structural, and vibration analysis for aerospace hardware
- Mastery in thermal, structural, vibration, and life assessment analysis best practices
- Mastery in ductile and brittle material failure theories
- Prior experience instrumenting hardware using strain gauges, thermocouples, and accelerometers to validate FEM results
- Proficiency in finite element analysis using commercially available software packages
- Proficiency in one or more programming languages: Python, Matlab, VBA, and/or C++
NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduate degree with 3+ years of experience
- Proficiency in ANSYS Workbench and NASGRO
- Familiarity with liquid engine qualification and certification using NASA-STDs 5012, 5019
- Prior experience analyzing rocket engine combustion devices and turbopump components
- Experience supporting failure investigations
- Experience with additively manufactured materials, part design, and analysis
- Experience working in fast-paced development programs
