Structural Analyst — Neutron Vehicle (FEA & Composites)

Rocket Lab; Auckland; On-site; NZD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab’s Neutron team is seeking a Structural Analyst to design and validate the Neutron launch vehicle’s primary and secondary structures. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, you will collaborate with design, manufacturing, and test engineers to own structures from concept to completion.

You’ll build FE models, analyze design responses under static, dynamic, and thermal loads, and help define build processes while documenting analysis methods and meeting tight deadlines in a high‑pressure space

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

FEA packages

Composite structures

Abaqus

ANSYS

Optistruct/Hyperworks

NX

Fibersim

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

NASTRAN (FEMAP)

ANSYS

Abaqus

Optistruct/Hyperworks

NX

Fibersim

Job description

Rocket Lab’s Neutron team is seeking a Structural Analyst to design and validate the Neutron launch vehicle’s primary and secondary structures. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, you will collaborate with design, manufacturing, and test engineers to own structures from concept to completion.

You’ll build FE models, analyze design responses under static, dynamic, and thermal loads, and help define build processes while documenting analysis methods and meeting tight deadlines in a high‑pressure space