Senior Ground Support Engineer I

Rocket Lab USA; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 156,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Employee stock purchase program

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Rocket Lab Corporation is hiring a Ground Support Engineer at the Senior GSE Engineer I level to support the Neutron program in Middle River, MD. You will design and analyze tooling, develop ground support equipment, and oversee fabrication, testing, and commissioning of projects for rocket production and testing.

The role requires a mechanical/aerospace engineering background with 5+ years in tooling design and analysis, plus strong project management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ 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

FEA

GD&T

Mechanical design

Project management

Education

Bachelors degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or related engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Job description

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 designproduction tooling,ground support equipment, and transport toolingbased oninputs 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 SENIOR GROUND SUPPORT ENGINEER I:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline
• 5+ 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&ID’s
• 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)

$156,275 - $171,675 USD

$108,800 - $136,000 USD

WHAT TO EXPECT

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here .

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [e-mail]. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Rocket Lab Corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do