Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I

Rocket Lab Corporation•Long Beach, CA

14h•$82,400 - $113,300•Onsite

About The Position

Rocket Lab is seeking a Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I to join its propulsion engineering team in Long Beach, California. The role has system-level and component-level ownership of spacecraft propulsion and fluidic development, supporting the Space Systems division and programs for civil, commercial, and defense customers. The engineer owns development of new or existing products and systems and may act as technical lead through the end-to-end development process. Work includes conceptual and detailed CAD design, performance calculations and analysis, review and approval of engineering documentation, and planning and executing tests. The role also involves stakeholder communication, risk-based technical decisions, project and schedule management, mentoring, maintaining team standards, and contributing to engineering processes and documentation. The position may involve prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, as well as occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas. The position requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Compensation includes a base pay range of $82,400–$113,300 USD for California, and company stock as part of total compensation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
Experience in propulsion system development or another high-performance field.
U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Genuine passion for engineering, a curious mindset, and willingness to learn.
Detailed mechanical design experience using NX or equivalent industry-standard CAD software.
Experience with Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter, Windchill, or similar.
Comfort working with high levels of ambiguity.
Ability to make decisions using engineering principles, literature and standards, technical risk assessments, test data, and physics-based models.
Experience with propulsion systems using different storable propellants, including electrical and chemical propulsion.
Track record of design reviews and approving release of flight parts, qualification reports, and flight-hardware decisions.
Experience identifying steps to achieve technical goals, scheduling them in a plan, and managing delivery against the plan.
Experience developing requirements and verification sets, writing test plans and reports, and performing tests.
Experience with end-to-end development, including requirements gathering, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing.
Experience using Python for data manipulation and post-processing.
Demonstrated hands-on engineering skills, inside or outside the workplace.
Hands-on integration and testing experience, ideally using National Instruments equipment and software.
Experience with GD&T and engineering drawings.
Experience using National Instruments data acquisition systems.
Experience testing and troubleshooting flight hardware.
Master’s or PhD in engineering.

Responsibilities

Own development of new or existing products or systems and act as technical lead through the end-to-end development process.
Create conceptual and detailed CAD designs for propulsion system components and perform performance calculations and analysis.
Review and approve drawings, 3D PMI, reports, and specifications.
Plan, set up, instrument, and execute tests, and analyze test data.
Communicate with internal and external project stakeholders.
Make risk-based technical decisions to identify the right solution 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 Rocket Lab engineering process development and documentation in 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 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.