Fluid Component Engineer II — Spaceflight Propulsion

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

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase Program (15%

Medical plans

Dental & Vision

Paid vacation & sick time

11 paid holidays

401(k) match

Onsite fitness centers

Discounts on merch

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Fluid Component Engineer II for the Neutron program in California. You will own fluid component designs from concept to launch, size components with first-principles models, and define parts through CAD drawings and test procedures.

You will lead design reviews and coordinate with vendors and internal teams, building and testing prototype components and guiding flight qualification efforts. Strong CAD/FEA and hands-on testing experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 2+ years of experience with mechanical design and assembly, CAD, FEA, 2D drawings, GD&T.
• Strong first-principles engineering knowledge to establish and challenge requirements and develop optimized designs.
• Knowledge of metal and polymer material properties, fabrication, fastening, assembly and testing methods.
• Strong engineering 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 from first principles and predict sealing, force balance, structural and timing behavior.
• Create and maintain component product definition through CAD models, technical drawings, and test procedures.
• Lead key component design, manufacturing and test reviews.
• Manage vendor and internal schedules during design, build and test sprints.
• Build and test prototype components hands-on, collaborating with machinists, build technicians, manufacturing engineers, and test engineers.
• Lead test campaigns to qualify components for flight.
• Conduct root cause failure investigations of hardware, and implement design fixes to achieve reliability.
• Update existing component designs to address critical failure modes while reducing cost and mass and increasing build rate.
• Review data from engine and vehicle test operations to validate component performance and diagnose anomalies

Skills

CAD

FEA

2D drawings

GD&T

First-principles engineering

Structural analysis

Fluid dynamics

Thermodynamics

EM systems

Prototype/testing

Pressure testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Python

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Fluid Component Engineer II for the Neutron program in California. You will own fluid component designs from concept to launch, size components with first-principles models, and define parts through CAD drawings and test procedures.

You will lead design reviews and coordinate with vendors and internal teams, building and testing prototype components and guiding flight qualification efforts. Strong CAD/FEA and hands-on testing experience are essential.