Senior Aerodynamics Analyst – Hypersonics CFD Expert

Rocketlab; Auckland; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking a Senior Aerodynamics Analyst to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You will predict aerodynamics and aerothermal environments across mission phases, collaborating with design, test, and GNC engineers.

We value a Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering degree, 5+ years of relevant industry experience, and fluency with CFD tools (Fluent, CFX, STAR-CCM+), Python programming, and a first-principles problem-solving approach.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or similar field
• 5+ years industry experience in Aerospace/Automotive/Marine
• Strong physics and first principles-based problem solving
• Expertise with CFD packages: Fluent, CFX, STAR-CCM+
• Experience in Python programming (numpy, pandas, scipy, matplotlib)
• Ability to meet changing deadlines in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Generate aerotables and characterize vehicle performance (stability, loads, pressure distributions)
• Perform CFD analyses across hypersonic, transonic, and subsonic regimes
• Model plumes and interactions and define re-entry architecture
• Collaborate with design and test engineers to iterate concepts and validate with numerical/physical tests
• Support GNC team to enable safe landing and recovery
• Process ground test and flight data, verify MPE bounds, and diagnose sensor issues

Skills

First principles problem solving

Physics intuition

Python programming

CFD software

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Fluent

CFX

STAR-CCM+

NX CAD

Teamcenter

Job description

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking a Senior Aerodynamics Analyst to join the Thermofluids Analysis team. You will predict aerodynamics and aerothermal environments across mission phases, collaborating with design, test, and GNC engineers.

We value a Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering degree, 5+ years of relevant industry experience, and fluency with CFD tools (Fluent, CFX, STAR-CCM+), Python programming, and a first-principles problem-solving approach.