Ground Support Engineer II

rocketlab; Middle River (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant

Employee stock purchase program

Medical benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Ground Support Engineer II to support the Neutron program in Middle River, MD. You will design and procure ground support equipment, perform structural analysis, and produce drawings for fabrication and testing.

Responsibilities include owning project schedules, coordinating testing, and guiding technicians and vendors to ensure on-time delivery. A mechanical engineering background with GD&T expertise is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of tooling design and analysis experience (or 9+ years of experience in lieu of a degree).
• Technical project management or manufacturing design experience.
• Advanced understanding of mechanical design principles including GD&T, efficient load paths, structural connections, and material properties.
• Experience designing large structures for critical operations, such as crane lifts, transport, vertical and horizontal structural alignment, and production tooling.

Responsibilities

• Concept and design production tooling, ground support equipment, and transport tooling based on inputs from manufacturing engineers and the production group.
• Perform structural analysis through hand calculations and FEA to ensure designs meet margining requirements.
• Produce engineering drawings, schematics, and work instructions to communicate design specifications and assembly tasks to fabricators and technicians.
• Coordinate and perform proof testing on equipment to ensure that fabrication and assembly meets the requirements of the design.
• Own the schedule, fabrication, and commissioning/implementation of your projects.
• Provide technical guidance to internal machinists, fabricators, technicians, and procurement team to deliver projects on time.

Skills

Tooling design

Structural analysis

Technical project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or related engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

CAD/PLM

FEM/FEA

Job description

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

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.

NEUTRON

Neutron is a medium lift launch vehicle capable of delivering the mega constellations of tomorrow, high assurance payloads, and human spaceflight. As a highly reusable launch platform, Neutron will deliver a highly cost‑effective and reliable launch solution leveraging Rocket Lab's proven execution history with the Electron program. If you're interested in joining a high performing team, pushing the boundaries with a clean sheet development of re‑usable liquid launch vehicle, this is your opportunity!

GROUND SUPPORT ENGINEER

Rocket Lab is seeking a GSE Engineer to support the Neutron Program based out of Middle River, MD. GSE Engineers design, analyze, procure, test, and operate Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and tooling for rocket production, transport, and test operations. This role can be filled at the Level II or Senior level, depending on experience.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO

• Concept and design production tooling, ground support equipment, and transport tooling based on inputs from manufacturing engineers and the production group
• Perform structural analysis through hand calculations and FEA to ensure designs meet margining requirements
• Produce engineering drawings, schematics, and work instructions to communicate design specifications and assembly tasks to fabricators and technicians
• Coordinate and perform proof testing on equipment to ensure that fabrication and assembly meets the requirements of the design
• Own the schedule, fabrication, and commissioning/implementation of your projects
• Provide technical guidance to internal machinists, fabricators, technicians, and procurement team to deliver projects on time

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS A GROUND SUPPORT ENGINEER II

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline
• 2+ years of tooling design and analysis experience (or 9+ years of experience in lieu of a degree)
• Technical project management or manufacturing design experience
• Advanced understanding of mechanical design principles including GD&T, efficient load paths, structural connections, and material properties
• Experience designing large structures for critical operations, such as crane lifts, transport, vertical and horizontal structural alignment, and production tooling

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

• Tooling manufacturing experience in aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, marine, or other large‑scale fabrication industries
• Advanced non‑linear FEA, CFD, and heat transfer analysis methods
• Proficiency reading electrical schematics and P&IDs
• Experience with metrology via measurement arm or laser tracker
• Experience integrating hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical power systems (e.g., screws, hoists)
• Experience developing lift plans and specifying rigging for mobile and overhead cranes
• Project management experience in a fast‑paced prototype fabrication shop
• Proficiency with Siemens NX or similar CAD/PLM software
• Hands‑on proficiency with hand tools and basic fabrication equipment

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust and fumes in production areas.

Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock‑price performance.

Join one of the world's fastest‑growing space companies and own a piece of it. In addition to competitive base pay, you'll receive company stock as part of your total compensation package , giving you a direct stake in our success. As we expand to new launch sites, groundbreaking missions, and global markets, your ownership has the opportunity to grow alongside the company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes our industry‑leading Employee Stock Purchase Program (with a 15% discount on company stock), top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match, and free snacks/drinks onsite.

Level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total Compensation (base and equity)
$129,075 - $136,625 USD

Base Salary
$95,200 - $119,000 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

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