Aerospace Aerodynamics Analyst — CFD & Flight Performance

InvestedintheMission; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand is seeking an Aerodynamics Analyst to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You will predict aerodynamics and aerothermal environments for Electron and Neutron programs across mission phases using CFD and data interpretation.

Join a fast-paced aerospace team, collaborate with design, test, and GNC, translate complex physics into actionable insights, and help ensure robust performance in extreme flight regimes.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or similar field.
• 1+ years industry experience in Aerospace, Automotive, or Marine industries.
• Expertise with CFD packages: Fluent, CFX, STAR-CCM+.
• Experience in engineering programming, especially Python (NumPy, pandas, scipy, matplotlib).
• Ability to work to changing deadlines in a high-pressure environment.

Responsibilities

• Generate aerotables and characterise vehicle performance—stability, control authority, loads, pressure distributions, and surface aerodynamics.
• Perform, validate, and document CFD analyses across hypersonic to subsonic regimes; characterise aerothermal environments.
• Model plumes and plume interactions; define re-entry architecture and ballistic coefficients.
• Collaborate with design and test engineers to iterate concepts and determine test requirements.
• Work with the GNC team to enable safe land and recovery of Neutron’s 1st Stage.
• Process and interpret ground test and flight data; verify MPE bounds and resolve sensor issues.

Skills

CFD software - Fluent

Python programming

Numerical analysis

Education

Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX CAD

Teamcenter

Thermal Desktop

THERMICA

NX SST

Job description

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand is seeking an Aerodynamics Analyst to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You will predict aerodynamics and aerothermal environments for Electron and Neutron programs across mission phases using CFD and data interpretation.

Join a fast-paced aerospace team, collaborate with design, test, and GNC, translate complex physics into actionable insights, and help ensure robust performance in extreme flight regimes.