Senior Aerodynamics CFD Engineer for Space Launch

Space Talent; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; 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 for Electron & Neutron across mission phases, and collaborate with design, test, and GNC teams.

You will perform CFD analyses on external flow across hypersonic to subsonic regimes, model plumes/interactions, and help define re-entry architecture, with strong emphasis on numerical analysis and physical testing.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or similar field.
• 5+ years industry experience, ideally from the Aerospace, Automotive, or Marine industries.
• A keen physics and first principles-based approach to problem solving.
• Expertise with CFD packages: Fluent, CFX, STAR-CCM+.
• Experience in engineering programming, especially using Python (including numpy, pandas, scipy, matplotlib).
• 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

Aerospace experience

First-principles problem solving

High-pressure environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Fluent/CFD packages Fluent

CFX

STAR-CCM+

Python (numpy/pandas/scipy/matplotlib)

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 for Electron & Neutron across mission phases, and collaborate with design, test, and GNC teams.

You will perform CFD analyses on external flow across hypersonic to subsonic regimes, model plumes/interactions, and help define re-entry architecture, with strong emphasis on numerical analysis and physical testing.