Systems Engineer - Mechanical

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

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking a Systems Engineer to join the Neutron program. You will sit at the intersection of mechanical and fluid systems, working across Thermofluids, Propulsion, GNC, and Structures to architect the launch vehicle to meet program objectives.

You will drive topics such as design for integration, verify requirements through analysis and test, and define processes for interface management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (or equivalent).
• 1-5 years' industry experience in Structures, Fluid Systems, Mechanisms or Propulsion.

Responsibilities

• Drive cross-functional teams to integrate mechanical and fluid systems to deliver the vehicle's objectives.
• Verify requirements through analysis and test, ensuring artefacts are documented and linked to requirements.
• Take ownership of emergent systems; architect, design, verify, and implement.

Skills

Systems engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering

Tools

Rhapsody

DOORS

Jama

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

Rocket Lab's Neutron team is responsible for bringing our new large rocket Neutron and its launch and test sites to life. From designing and testing Neutron's structures and components, to firing up its new Archimedes engines, to setting up Neutron's launch pads and test sites across the United States, joining the Neutron team is your opportunity to help launch a new large rocket for the very first time.

As a Systems Engineer, you'll sit at the intersection of Neutron's mechanical and fluid systems, working across Thermofluids, Propulsion, GNC, and Structures to architect the launch vehicle to meet program objectives. You will drive topics such design topics and risks to resolution. Defining operating processes where they don't exist today.

You will deliver cross functional support to teams to align Neutron's mechanical and fluid system designs with the program's strategy, requirements, operations and technical maturity phases.

Systems Engineers are strong communicators, who combine expertise in technical assessment to optimise system performance, and possess a depth of knowledge to be able to define process excellence for the project.

Successful candidates will thrive in ambiguity, and are excited to work in a small, high performing team focused on continued learning and growth. This position is ideal for a multidisciplinary engineer keen to hit the ground running in support of a complex project from critical design through to integration and launch.

This role is based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Join a driven team that's tackling challenging projects, delivering on exciting missions, and making an impact on the future of space!

What You’ll Get To Do:

• Drive cross-functional teams to ensure mechanical and fluid systems integrate seamlessly to deliver the vehicle's objectives, proactively identifying system-level impacts to allow seamless integration.
• Work closely with design teams to verify requirements through analysis and test, ensuring that verification artefacts are documented and linked to requirements.
• Take ownership of emergent systems that don't have a natural home; architecting the solution and driving it through design, verification, and implementation.
• Define and improve interface management processes, closing the gap between early project tools and production suitable systems.
• Contribute to technical program decisions by identifying gaps in systems architecture, requirements, or process and building the fix, not just flagging the problem.
• Communicate internally and externally on the product status, often with incomplete information.
• Define and uphold high-quality systems engineering processes.

You'll Bring These Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (or equivalent experience)
• 1-5 year's industry experience applied to a relevant technical field (i.e. Structures, Fluid Systems, Mechanisms, Propulsion)
• Demonstrated experience in delivering complex multidisciplinary systems consisting of fluid systems, structures, mechanisms and/or propulsion with a broader awareness of other launch vehicle disciplines such as avionics hardware, avionics software, GNC, and/or Radio Communications.
• Proven track record of collaborating with cross functional stakeholders to guide projects from concept to completion.
• Proven communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and engineering professionals
• The ability to work to tight deadlines within a high-pressure environment
• Strong aptitude to learn new material to solve difficult, ambiguous challenges.
• Working knowledge of Engineering design, CAD, Engineering drawings, manufacturing processes

These Qualifications Would Be Nice To Have:

• Experience with fault-tolerance strategies and architectures for safety and mission critical systems
• Strong understanding of quality management such as standards, regulations and applicable policies and procedures such as information, change and configuration management
• Experience with AIAA S-080, SMC-S-016 and other aerospace standards.
• Experience in Systems Engineering tools e.g. Rhapsody, DOORS, Jama
• Familiarity with risk management processes