Aerodynamics Lead: CFD & Hypersonics Expert

Rocket Lab Corporation; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand seeks a Senior Aerodynamics Analyst to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You will predict aerodynamics and aerothermal environments across mission phases for Electron & Neutron, collaborating with design and test engineers to iterate concepts and prove margins through analysis and testing.

The role demands a physics-based, first principles approach, strong CFD expertise (Fluent/CFX/STAR-CCM+), and programming skills in Python.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or similar field.
• 5+ years industry experience, ideally from the Aerospace, Automotive, or Marine industries
• A keen physics and first principles-based approach to problem solving
• Expertise with one or more industry standard CFD packages: Fluent, CFX, STAR-CCM+
• Experience in engineering programming, especially using Python (including numpy, pandas, scipy, matplotlib, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability executing to changing deadlines in a high-pressure and fast-paced work environment

Responsibilities

• Generate aerotables and characterise vehicle performance—covering stability, control authority, loads, pressure distributions, and aerodynamic design of vehicle control surfaces
• Perform, validate, and document CFD analyses of external flow across hypersonic, transonic and subsonic regimes, and characterise aerodynamic and heating environments, transients, and separation events
• Model plumes and plume interactions (base heating, PIFS, impingement) and define re‑entry architecture, including ballistic coefficients, ConOps …
• Work closely with design and test engineers to iterate design concepts, determine test requirements, and demonstrate positive margins through numerical analysis, and physical test
• Works closely with the GNC team to enable them to safely land and recover Neutron’s 1stStage
• Process and interpret ground test and flight data—confirming MPE bounds, detecting out-of-family results, and resolving sensor configuration issues

Skills

Strong CFD expertise

Physics & first principles

Problem solving

Engineering collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Fluent

CFX

STAR-CCM+

Python

numpy

pandas

scipy

matplotlib

Job description

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand seeks a Senior Aerodynamics Analyst to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You will predict aerodynamics and aerothermal environments across mission phases for Electron & Neutron, collaborating with design and test engineers to iterate concepts and prove margins through analysis and testing.

The role demands a physics-based, first principles approach, strong CFD expertise (Fluent/CFX/STAR-CCM+), and programming skills in Python.