Hypersonics Aerodynamics Analyst for Spaceflight

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

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking an Aerodynamics Analyst to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You'll predict aerodynamics and aerothermal environments for Electron & Neutron throughout mission phases, generating aerotables and performing CFD analyses across hypersonic, transonic and subsonic regimes.

You will collaborate with design and test engineers, model plumes, define re-entry architecture, and support margins through numerical analysis and physical testing in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or equivalent field.
• 1+ years industry experience in aerospace, automotive or marine industries.
• Keen physics and first principles-based approach to problem solving.
• Experience with CFD packages Fluent, CFX, STAR-CCM+.
• Experience in engineering programming with Python (numpy, pandas, scipy, matplotlib).
• Ability to meet changing deadlines in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Generate aerotables and characterise vehicle performance—stability, control authority, loads, pressure distributions, and aerodynamic design of control surfaces.
• Perform, validate, and document CFD analyses of external flow across hypersonic, transonic and subsonic regimes; characterise aerothermal environments, transients, and separation events.
• Model plumes and plume interactions and define re-entry architecture, including ballistic coefficients, ConOps, and compartment venting.
• Collaborate with design and test engineers to iterate concepts, determine test requirements, and demonstrate margins through numerical analysis and testing.
• Work with the GNC team to enable safe landing and recovery of Neutron’s 1st Stage.
• Process and interpret ground test and flight data, confirm MPE bounds, detect out-of-family results, and resolve sensor configuration issues.

Skills

Physics-based problem solving

Aerospace engineering fundamentals

Education

Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering degree

Tools

Fluent

CFX

STAR-CCM+

Python programming

Job description

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking an Aerodynamics Analyst to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You'll predict aerodynamics and aerothermal environments for Electron & Neutron throughout mission phases, generating aerotables and performing CFD analyses across hypersonic, transonic and subsonic regimes.

You will collaborate with design and test engineers, model plumes, define re-entry architecture, and support margins through numerical analysis and physical testing in a fast-paced