Space Structures Analyst - FEA & Composites

Rocketlab; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab's Neutron team seeks a Structural Analyst to develop and validate primary and secondary structures for the Neutron launch vehicle from concept through completion. Based in Auckland, you will collaborate with design, manufacturing, and test engineers to ensure robust structural designs.

You will build and post-process FE models, develop analysis methods, and support manufacturing with material choices and build processes while mentoring junior engineers under tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar field.
• 1+ years’ experience performing structural analysis in high performance applications.
• Strong understanding of composites engineering fundamentals (mechanics of materials, classical lamination theory, material property characterization, design best practices, analysis methods, and manufacturing processes)
• Demonstrated expertise with one or more industry standard structural FEA packages: NASTRAN (FEMAP), ANSYS, Abaqus, Optistruct/Hyperworks etc.
• Experience with structural testing of composite components or assemblies
• Familiarity supporting composite manufacture and prototyping
• The ability to work to deadlines within a high-pressure environment

Responsibilities

• Support the analysis of primary and secondary structures, including composites and metallic components, and integrated structural assemblies
• Build, run, and post-process FE models to calculate design responses and margins to static, dynamic, and thermal loads
• Collaborate with design engineers to develop concepts, and manufacturing engineers to identify suitable materials, and define pragmatic build processes
• Work alongside test engineers to define test plans, monitor test activities, and post-process test data against analytical predictions
• Develop and document structural analysis methods
• Proactively identify and solve technical challenges to allow projects to proceed at pace
• Technically assist junior engineers

Skills

Structural analysis

Composites fundamentals

FEA packages

Structural testing

Composite manufacture

Deadline driven

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

NASTRAN/FEMAP

ANSYS

Abaqus

Optistruct/Hyperworks

Job description

Rocket Lab's Neutron team seeks a Structural Analyst to develop and validate primary and secondary structures for the Neutron launch vehicle from concept through completion. Based in Auckland, you will collaborate with design, manufacturing, and test engineers to ensure robust structural designs.

You will build and post-process FE models, develop analysis methods, and support manufacturing with material choices and build processes while mentoring junior engineers under tight deadlines.