Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer – Mission Formulation

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical coverage

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer II – Mission Formulation to lead the mechanical formulation of satellite systems, including structures, mechanisms, and bus configurations. You will manage budgets, requirements, trades, testing, and validation workflows.

You will work with the Space Systems team to develop high performance bus configurations, support new opportunities, and deliver CAD drawings and procedures across life cycle from concept through

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering; or other technical discipline.
• 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience in the aerospace industry.
• Experience supporting satellite and/or spacecraft development programs.
• Experience with CAD modeling and drawing.
• US citizenship is required, due to program requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead Rocket Lab’s satellite mechanical engineering formulation supporting business development and new opportunity capture.
• Develop high performance and lightweight satellite bus configurations, structures, and mechanisms for our customers.
• Develop concepts and satellite configurations for high value science and interplanetary missions.
• Define what mechanisms and deployment systems look like on a modern satellite system/bus.
• Develop and maintain mass and mechanical technical budgets, mechanical requirements definition, and verification techniques.
• Lead and own the mechanical technical development of spacecraft missions from conceptual design through production, test, and operation.
• Create and maintain product definition through CAD, production drawings, and test and operations procedures.
• Assist with program and product management, including development schedules, vendors, and budgets.

Skills

CAD modeling

Mechanical engineering

Satellite/spacecraft

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

JAMA/DOORS

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer II – Mission Formulation to lead the mechanical formulation of satellite systems, including structures, mechanisms, and bus configurations. You will manage budgets, requirements, trades, testing, and validation workflows.

You will work with the Space Systems team to develop high performance bus configurations, support new opportunities, and deliver CAD drawings and procedures across life cycle from concept through