Principal Electric Propulsion Engineer
Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA
•Onsite
About The Position
Rocket Lab is seeking a Principal Electric Propulsion Engineer for their propulsion engineering team based out of Long Beach, CA. This role is within the Space Systems division, supporting cutting-edge programs for civil, commercial, and defense customers. The engineer will be responsible for system-level and component-level ownership of space systems propulsion and fluidic development.
Requirements
- 12+ years of experience in propulsion system development, or equivalent high-performance field
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical engineering discipline)
- Expertise in propulsion system modelling, static and transient analysis, and model validation using test data using software such as Amesim, EcosimPro, Simulink, or Simscape
- Experience with end-to-end development process including gathering requirements, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing
- Strong grasp of all steps in the Systems Engineering V and risk-based decision making
- Experience working on electric propulsion systems
- U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
Nice To Haves
- A genuine passion for engineering, curious mindset, and willingness to learn
- Comfortable working with high levels of ambiguity
- Makes decisions using basic engineering principles, available literature and standards, technical risk assessments, test data, and physics-based models
- Practice in identifying the necessary steps to achieve high level technical goals, scheduling them in a plan, and managing delivery against that plan
- Experience with Jama
- Capabilities using Python for data manipulation and post-processing
- Detailed mechanical design experience using NX (preferred) or equivalent industry standard CAD software
- Experience with GD&T and engineering drawings
- Experience using Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar
- Experience using National Instruments data acquisition systems
- Experience with testing and troubleshooting flight hardware
- Masters or PhD
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well within a team environment
- Demonstrated hands on engineering skills, inside or outside the workplace
Responsibilities
- Own development of new or existing products or systems, acting as technical lead to guide team through end-to-end development process
- Conceptual and detailed performance calculations, systems modelling, analysis, and system designs
- Requirements gathering, definition, and management
- Systems engineering activities and leadership within the team
- Test planning, setup, instrumentation, execution, and data analysis
- Communicate with project stakeholders internal and external to the team
- Technical risk-based decision making to the right/best solution when faced with an engineering challenge
- Project management, including: schedule building and maintenance, identifying top priority items, tasking of other engineers and technicians, and communication of status to leadership and other teams
- Mentor and coach people within the team on technical and professional development
- Define and maintain standard of excellence for their team through documentation, training, coaching, and review of others’ work
- Contribute to engineering process development and documentation at Rocket Lab related to areas of experience
Benefits
- Company stock as part of your total compensation package
- Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock)
- Top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and a zero cost HDHP option with a significant HSA company contribution)
- Dental and vision coverage
- Paid vacation and sick time
- 11 paid holidays
- Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
- Paid parental leave
- Disability and life insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Subsidized EV charging
- Onsite fitness centers (where available)
- Discounted gym memberships
- Complimentary snacks and beverages
- 50% employee discount on our popular merch store
- Variety of other employee discounts
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
