Senior Development Engineer

JobSpace; Auckland; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in New Zealand offers a Senior Development Engineer role to shape the architecture of the Neutron launch vehicle. You will collaborate with analysis and manufacturing engineers to create concepts, detailed designs, and drawing packages for metallic and composite components and assemblies, and oversee development tests to verify performance.

The position requires hands-on CAD work, rapid iteration, and testing oversight to ensure manufacturability and reliability.

Qualifications

• 5+ years designing high performance mechanical systems.
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Strong analytical skills and big-picture thinking.
• Tenacity with quick, accurate judgment.

Responsibilities

• Produce & rapidly iterate conceptual designs in CAD for structures and mechanisms across the Neutron launch vehicle.
• Identify and solve technical challenges to keep projects moving safely and quickly.
• Prepare drawing packages and technical reports with manufacturability in mind.
• Define design requirements in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Support testing of structures and mechanisms, including composites and metals.
• Develop test plans, monitor tests, and document results.
• Produce test jigs/fixtures to aid testing.

Skills

CAD design

NX CAD

Fibersim

SolidWorks

CATIA

Pressure handling

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Decision making

Education

Aerospace/mechanical/mechatronic engineering degree

Tools

NX

Fibersim

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Rocket Lab is bringing our innovative medium-lift launch vehicle, Neutron, to life. Neutron Development Engineers deliver across a broad set of vehicle domains including structural (i.e. Propellant tanks, interstage, fairings), mechanical (i.e. stage separation, landing, aerodynamic control), fluid (i.e. pressurant, propellant management, ignition, HVAC), and thermal (i.e. thermal protection) systems.

As a Senior Development Engineer, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the architecture of our vehicle. This role will work directly with analysis and manufacturing engineers to produce concepts, detailed designs, and drawing packages for metallic and composites components & assemblies and to perform development & qualification tests, refine designs, and ensure Neutron's materials, components, and assemblies meet their functional and performance requirements.

What You'll Get To Do:

• Produce & rapidly iterate conceptual designs in CAD for structures and mechanisms across the Neutron launch vehicle.
• Proactively identify and solve technical challenges to allow projects to proceed safely and at pace;
• Prepare drawing packages & technical reports, ensuring manufacturability is considered throughout the design process
• Support with the definition of design requirements
• Support the testing structures and mechanisms, including composites and metallic components
• Develop test plans, monitor test activities, and post-process and document test data to verify functional and performance requirements;
• Produce test jigs / fixtures to aid testing of components & assemblies;

You’ll Bring These Qualifications:

• Aerospace, mechanical or mechatronic engineering degree or equivalent qualification
• 5+ years designing high performance mechanical systems
• Experience with CAD software such as NX (preferred), Fibersim (preferred), Solidworks, CATIA
• The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well within a team environment
• Sound analytical skills and the ability to see the big picture and making connections and appropriate decisions
• Have tenacity, a can-do attitude, and the ability to think quickly and make accurate judgements

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:

• Experience in one of the following domain areas:
  • Metallic or composite structures
  • Mechanisms
  • Pressurised systems
  • Fluid Systems

What To Expect:

We're on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that's not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other's backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at ******@rocketlabusa.com. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.