Launch Vehicle Systems Engineer – Mechanical

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

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand is seeking a Systems Engineer – Mechanical to join the Neutron program. You will sit at the intersection of mechanical and fluid systems and drive design, verification, and integration across Thermofluids, Propulsion, GNC, and Structures.

The role focuses on defining processes, delivering cross-functional support, and maintaining high-quality systems engineering practices while thriving in a small, high-performing team through complex design to launch.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• 1-5 year’s industry experience applied to a relevant technical field (i.e. Structures, Fluid Systems, Mechanisms, Propulsion).
• Demonstrated experience in delivering complex multidisciplinary systems consisting of fluid systems, structures, mechanisms and/or propulsion with a broader awareness of other launch vehicle disciplines such as avionics hardware, avionics software, GNC, and/or Radio Communications.
• Proven track record of collaborating with cross functional stakeholders to guide projects from concept to completion.
• Proven communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and engineering professionals
• The ability to work to tight deadlines within a high‑pressure environment
• Strong aptitude to learn new material to solve difficult, ambiguous challenges.
• Working knowledge of Engineering design, CAD, Engineering drawings, manufacturing processes

Responsibilities

• Drive cross-functional teams to ensure mechanical and fluid systems integrate seamlessly to deliver the vehicle's objectives, proactively identifying system-level impacts to allow seamless integration.
• Work closely with design teams to verify requirements through analysis and test, ensuring that verification artefacts are documented and linked to requirements.
• Take ownership of emergent systems that don't have a natural home; architecting the solution and driving it through design, verification, and implementation.
• Define and improve interface management processes, closing the gap between early project tools and production suitable systems.
• Contribute to technical program decisions by identifying gaps in systems architecture, requirements, or process and building the fix, not just flagging the problem.
• Communicate internally and externally on the product status, often with incomplete information.
• Define and uphold high-quality systems engineering processes.

Skills

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Ambiguity handling

Time management

Learning aptitude

CAD proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (or equivalent experience)

Tools

Rhapsody

DOORS

Jama

Job description

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand is seeking a Systems Engineer – Mechanical to join the Neutron program. You will sit at the intersection of mechanical and fluid systems and drive design, verification, and integration across Thermofluids, Propulsion, GNC, and Structures.

The role focuses on defining processes, delivering cross-functional support, and maintaining high-quality systems engineering practices while thriving in a small, high-performing team through complex design to launch.