Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I
About The Position
Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I for its propulsion engineering team in Long Beach, California. The role owns propulsion and fluidic development at both the system and component levels, supporting the Space Systems division and programs for civil, commercial, and defense customers. The engineer leads development of new and existing products and systems from concept through production and testing, serving as a technical lead and contributing to team and engineering-process development. The position involves propulsion system performance calculations, modeling, analysis, and design; requirements management; systems engineering; test planning and execution; stakeholder communication; technical risk-based decisions; project coordination; and mentoring and coaching team members. The role may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, as well as occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas. Rocket Lab offers competitive base pay and company stock as part of total compensation. The California base pay range is $115,200–$158,400 USD; level and pay are determined case by case based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, such as aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or another technical discipline.
- At least 5 years of experience in propulsion system development or another high-performance field.
- U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
- Expertise in propulsion system modeling, static and transient analysis, and model validation using test data, with software such as Amesim, EcosimPro, Simulink, or Simscape.
- Experience with end-to-end development, including requirements gathering, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing.
- Experience with all steps in the Systems Engineering V and risk-based decision-making.
- Experience working on propulsion systems utilizing different storable propellants, such as electrical and chemical.
Nice To Haves
- A genuine passion for engineering, a curious mindset, and willingness to learn.
- Demonstrated hands-on engineering skills, inside or outside the workplace.
- Comfort working with high levels of ambiguity.
- Ability to make decisions using basic engineering principles, available literature and standards, technical risk assessments, test data, and physics-based models.
- Experience identifying steps to achieve high-level technical goals, scheduling them in a plan, and managing delivery against that plan.
- Experience with Jama.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work well in a team environment.
- Ability to use 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 testing and troubleshooting flight hardware.
- Master’s or PhD.
Responsibilities
- Own development of new or existing products or systems and act as technical lead through the end-to-end development process.
- Perform conceptual and detailed performance calculations, systems modeling, analysis, and system design.
- Gather, define, and manage requirements.
- Lead systems engineering activities within the team.
- Plan, set up, instrument, execute, and analyze tests.
- Communicate with project stakeholders inside and outside the team.
- Make technical, risk-based decisions to identify appropriate solutions to engineering challenges.
- Manage projects, including building and maintaining schedules, prioritizing work, assigning tasks to engineers and technicians, and communicating status to leadership and other teams.
- Mentor and coach team members in technical and professional development.
- Define and maintain team standards through documentation, training, coaching, and review of others’ work.
- Contribute to the development and documentation of Rocket Lab engineering processes related to areas of experience.
Benefits
- Company stock as part of total compensation.
- Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
- Medical plans, including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a significant company HSA 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 the company merchandise store.
- Other employee discounts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
