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Salary: USD 83,200 - 114,400 / annual
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems for missions ranging from interplanetary exploration to national security and defense. The Space Systems team has enabled over 1,700 missions and works with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
The Spacecraft Thermal Engineer I, based in Long Beach, CA, is responsible for the thermal design, analysis, testing, and validation of Rocket Lab's space vehicles. You will perform thermal modeling and data analysis while collaborating closely with test and design engineers to capture vehicle thermal performance and provide input for design improvements. Deliverables support internal leadership, the board of directors, and investors.
Key responsibilities include:
- Complete thermal modeling and analysis of vehicles
- Conduct thermal design trade studies balancing performance margins, resource use, risk, cost, and schedule
- Identify and resolve thermal design, acceptance, and performance issues for space vehicle components and assemblies
- Design and execute thermal tests for space vehicle components and assemblies
- Perform thermal model validation using test and in-flight data
- Liaise with all levels of program and engineering staff on thermal design and test matters
- Support other teams and disciplines as necessary
- Identify and research potential vendors of thermal control materials
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, with occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or other engineering discipline
- Thermal engineering experience
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements (ITAR compliance)
NICE-TO-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's or PhD in aerospace, mechanical, or other engineering discipline
- Strong background in heat transfer
- Experience with thermal systems and passive thermal management techniques
- Familiarity with Siemens NX and Teamcenter, with emphasis on model interrogation and defeaturing
- Demonstrated experience with Thermal Desktop
- Experience planning, executing, and analyzing thermal balance tests
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and build strong working relationships
- Experience with constant conductance and variable conductance heat pipes
- Experience with multi-layer insulation design, fabrication, installation, and test
- Experience with 0-D and 1-D thermal/fluid networks
- Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python and MATLAB
- Familiarity with thermal engineering tools such as NX Space Systems Thermal, ANSYS, SINDA, and THERMICA
- Knowledge of launch and on-orbit operations
- Familiarity with orbital mechanics and attitude dynamics related to thermal analysis
