Senior Ground Support Engineer I

Rocket Lab•Middle River, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is seeking a Ground Support Engineer to support the Neutron Program in Middle River, Maryland. Ground Support Engineers design, analyze, procure, test, and operate ground support equipment and tooling for rocket production, transport, and test operations. This role focuses on production tooling, ground support equipment, and transport tooling, from concept and design through fabrication, testing, and implementation. The position may be filled at Level II or Senior level depending on experience.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline, or 9+ years of experience in lieu of a degree.
5+ years of tooling design and analysis experience, or 9+ years of experience in lieu of a degree.
Technical project management or manufacturing design experience.
Advanced understanding of mechanical design principles, including GD&T, efficient load paths, structural connections, and material properties.
Experience designing large structures for critical operations, such as crane lifts, transport, vertical and horizontal structural alignment, and production tooling.

Nice To Haves

Tooling manufacturing experience in aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, marine, or other large-scale fabrication industries.
Experience with advanced non-linear FEA, CFD, and heat transfer analysis methods.
Proficiency reading electrical schematics and P&IDs.
Experience with metrology using a measurement arm or laser tracker.
Experience integrating hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical power systems, such as screws and hoists.
Experience developing lift plans and specifying rigging for mobile and overhead cranes.
Project management experience in a fast-paced prototype fabrication shop.
Proficiency with Siemens NX or similar CAD/PLM software.
Hands-on proficiency with hand tools and basic fabrication equipment.

Responsibilities

Concept and design production tooling, ground support equipment, and transport tooling based on input from manufacturing engineers and the production group.
Perform structural analysis using hand calculations and finite element analysis to ensure designs meet margining requirements.
Produce engineering drawings, schematics, and work instructions communicating design specifications and assembly tasks to fabricators and technicians.
Coordinate and perform proof testing to ensure equipment fabrication and assembly meet design requirements.
Own project schedules, fabrication, commissioning, and implementation.
Provide technical guidance to internal machinists, fabricators, technicians, and the procurement team to deliver projects on time.