Senior Vibrations Engineer - Aerospace Dynamics & Testing

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

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Vibrations Engineer to contribute to analysis, design validation, and load derivation for launch vehicles. You will predict loads, review instrumentation, and perform dynamic simulations across ground tests and flight environments.

Join a collaborative team at Rocket Lab, leveraging Python and FE A tools to shape data-driven decisions, mentor junior engineers, and help deliver reliable rocket systems for space missions.

Qualifications

• 7+ years industry experience, ideally from the Aerospace, Automotive, or Marine industries.
• A keen physics-based approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrated Experience with vibration and shock testing.
• Demonstrated Experience with sensor selection and data post-processing/interpretation (accelerometers, strain gauges, thermocouples etc.)
• Demonstrated Experience with static and dynamic structural test methods, including: Modal Characterization, Acoustic, Random vibration, Sine burst, Force notching, Shock, Fixture evaluation
• Expertise with engineering programming and data analysis, especially in Python
• Experience with finite element modelling and analysis with one or more industry standard structural FEA packages: Femap/NX Nastran, Simcenter/NX Nastran, Abaqus, Optistruct/Hyperworks
• Comfort working independently and in a team
• Effective communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and engineering professionals

Responsibilities

• Define, process, and interpret static and dynamic ground test and flight data, including: Sensor selection, Data acquisition and validation, Environment determination (Random Vibration, Shock, Quasi-Static, Acoustic, Pressure, Thermal)
• Perform dynamic simulations, including: Modal, Acoustic, Random vibration, Sine harmonic, Transient
• Define test requirements and directly support testing of vehicle subsystems.
• Perform, validate, and document structural analyses of primary and secondary launch vehicle structures, including: Finite element model verification and validation, Material selection, Performance of trade‑off studies, Mass optimization
• Help implement new theory and tools within the team and establish best practices in dynamics and load derivation.
• Conduct peer reviews of analyses.
• Mentor more junior engineers as required.

Skills

Vibration testing

Python programming

Structural analysis

Sensor selection

Data post-processing

Physics-based problem solving

Modal characterization

Communication skills

Tools

Femap/NX Nastran

Simcenter/NX Nastran

Abaqus

Optistruct/Hyperworks

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Vibrations Engineer to contribute to analysis, design validation, and load derivation for launch vehicles. You will predict loads, review instrumentation, and perform dynamic simulations across ground tests and flight environments.

Join a collaborative team at Rocket Lab, leveraging Python and FE A tools to shape data-driven decisions, mentor junior engineers, and help deliver reliable rocket systems for space missions.