Aerospace Aerodynamics Analyst: Hypersonics & CFD Expert

Rocket Lab; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking an Aerodynamics Analyst in Auckland, NZ to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You will predict aerodynamics and heating environments for Electron and Neutron across mission phases, generating aerotables and performing CFD analyses for external flow.

You will collaborate with design, test, and GNC teams to iterate concepts, define test requirements, and interpret ground flight data to ensure positive margins and safe operations across all stages of flight.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or similar field.
• 1+ 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 Python packages 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, and compartment venting
• 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 1 st Stage
• Process and interpret ground test and flight data—confirming MPE bounds, detecting out-of-family results, and resolving sensor configuration issues

Skills

CFD

Python

Problem solving

Deadline-driven

Aero knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Fluent

CFX

STAR-CCM+

NX CAD

Teamcenter

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking an Aerodynamics Analyst in Auckland, NZ to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You will predict aerodynamics and heating environments for Electron and Neutron across mission phases, generating aerotables and performing CFD analyses for external flow.

You will collaborate with design, test, and GNC teams to iterate concepts, define test requirements, and interpret ground flight data to ensure positive margins and safe operations across all stages of flight.