Fluid Component Engineer II: Flight-Ready Space Components

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

EV charging

Fitness center

Gym discount

Snacks and beverages

Merch discounts

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in California is seeking a Fluid Component Engineer II to own fluid component designs from concept through launch on the Neutron launch vehicle. You will develop analytical models, CAD definitions, and lead reviews with internal and vendor teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on prototyping, testing, and resolving reliability issues, with a path to scalable design and reduced cost while maintaining flight‑ready performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 2+ years of experience with mechanical design and assembly, CAD, FEA, 2D drawings, and GD&T.
• Strong first-principles engineering knowledge to establish and challenge requirements and develop optimized designs.
• Knowledge of metal and polymer properties, fabrication, fastening, assembly, and testing methods.
• Strong fundamentals in structural analysis, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and electromechanical systems.
• Demonstrated ability to bring definition to complex design problems in a fast-paced environment with information available.
• Hands-on experience with prototyping, mechanical assembly and pressure testing.

Responsibilities

• Own fluid component designs from concept through launch.
• Create and maintain analytical models to size new components and predict behavior.
• Create CAD models, drawings, and test procedures for components.
• Lead design, manufacturing, and test reviews.
• Manage vendor and internal schedules during design, build and test sprints.
• Build and test prototype components with engineers and technicians.
• Lead test campaigns to qualify components for flight.
• Investigate root causes of hardware failures and implement fixes.
• Update designs to reduce cost and mass while increasing build rate.

Skills

First-principles engineering

Hands-on problem solving

Strong engineering fundamentals

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering

Tools

CAD

FEA

GD&T

Pressure testing

Prototype fabrication

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in California is seeking a Fluid Component Engineer II to own fluid component designs from concept through launch on the Neutron launch vehicle. You will develop analytical models, CAD definitions, and lead reviews with internal and vendor teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on prototyping, testing, and resolving reliability issues, with a path to scalable design and reduced cost while maintaining flight‑ready performance.