Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Components Engineer I

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

5h•$115,000 - $173,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are currently seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Components Engineer I for our propulsion engineering team based out of Long Beach, CA. As a Propulsion Components Engineer, you are responsible for system-level and component-level ownership of space systems propulsion and fluidic development. These teams support our Space Systems division, and lead cutting-edge programs for civil, commercial, and defense customers.

Requirements

5+ 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)
Detailed mechanical design experience using NX (preferred) or equivalent industry standard CAD software and Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar
Track record of design reviews and approving release of flight parts, qual reports and decisions for flight hardware
Experience with end-to-end development process including gathering requirements, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well within a team environment
Hands-on integration and testing experience (ideally using NI equipment and software)
Experience working on propulsion systems utilizing different storable propellants, such as electrical and chemical
US citizenship and willingness to obtain a security clearance required, due to program requirements

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 developing requirement and verification sets, as well as writing test plans, performing testing, and writing test reports
Capabilities using Python for data manipulation and post-processing
Demonstrated hands on engineering skills, inside or outside the workplace
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
Master's or PhD

Responsibilities

Owning development of new or existing products or systems, acting as technical lead to guide team through end-to-end development process.
Conceptual and detailed designs in CAD for propulsion system components as well as performance calculations, and analysis.
Review and approval of others’ drawings, 3D PMI, reports, and specifications.
Test planning, setup, instrumentation, execution, and data analysis.
Communicating 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.
Mentorship and coaching of people within the team on technical and professional development.
Defining and maintaining standard of excellence for their team through documentation, training, coaching, and review of others’ work.
Contributing 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