Senior Propulsion Engineer (Spacecraft) – Secret Clearance

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top-tier medical

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Vacation 3 weeks

Sick leave 5 days

Holidays 11

401(k) matching

Stock purchase program

EV charging

Onsite gym

Food and drinks

Job summary

Rocket Lab seeks a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer II (SECRET CLEARANCE) for our propulsion engineering team in Long Beach, CA. You will own system-level and component-level propulsion development and lead programs for civil, commercial, and defense customers.

You will model, analyze, and validate propulsion systems, guide requirements, and mentor teammates while contributing to Rocket Lab's process improvements and best practices in propulsion engineering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical discipline).
• 8+ years of propulsion system development or other high-performance field.
• Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility; US citizenship required.
• Expertise in propulsion modelling, static/transient analysis, and model validation with test data software.
• Experience with end-to-end development: requirements, design, qualification, production, testing.
• Experience with Systems Engineering V and risk-based decision making.
• Experience with propulsion using varied propellants (electrical/chemical).

Responsibilities

• Own development of new or existing products, leading end-to-end development.
• Perform performance calculations, modelling, analysis, and system designs.
• Gather and manage requirements for propulsion projects.
• Provide systems engineering leadership within the team.
• Plan tests, set up instrumentation, execute tests, and analyze data.
• Communicate with stakeholders inside and outside the team.
• Make risk-based technical decisions for optimal solutions.
• Manage project schedules, priorities, and status reporting to leadership.
• Mentor teammates on technical and professional growth.
• Define standards and contribute to Rocket Lab engineering processes.

Skills

Propulsion modelling

Static analysis

Model validation

Amesim

EcosimPro

Simulink

Simscape

Jama

Python

NX CAD

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Jama

Teamcenter

Windchill

NX

National Instruments

Job description

Rocket Lab seeks a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer II (SECRET CLEARANCE) for our propulsion engineering team in Long Beach, CA. You will own system-level and component-level propulsion development and lead programs for civil, commercial, and defense customers.

You will model, analyze, and validate propulsion systems, guide requirements, and mentor teammates while contributing to Rocket Lab's process improvements and best practices in propulsion engineering.