Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer - Mission Formulation

Rocket Lab USA; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical HMO/PPO health plans

Company-sponsored medical HSA

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick leave

11 paid holidays per year

Retirement plan with company match

Discounted employee stock purchase

Onsite gym

Food and drinks

Job summary

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer I - Mission Formulation to lead the mechanical formulation of new satellite systems and manage budgets, requirements, tests, and verification from concept to production.

You will work with the Space Systems team to develop high-performance satellite configurations, mechanisms, and deployment concepts for civil, national security, and commercial missions, while collaborating with BD and Strategy leadership.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead 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 and verification techniques, structural analyses, hand‑calcs and FEA, test methods and data analysis.
• 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.
• Develop, in collaboration with team members, mechanical interface specifications, CONOPS definition, and other design documents.

Skills

CAD modeling

Mechanical engineering

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Master's or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

JAMA

DOORS

Job description

Rocket Lab USA in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer I - Mission Formulation to lead the mechanical formulation of new satellite systems and manage budgets, requirements, tests, and verification from concept to production.

You will work with the Space Systems team to develop high-performance satellite configurations, mechanisms, and deployment concepts for civil, national security, and commercial missions, while collaborating with BD and Strategy leadership.