Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Lead

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

Benefits offered by this job

Top-tier medical coverage

401(k) with company match

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I in Long Beach, CA to own system-level and component-level propulsion development. You will lead end-to-end design, analyses, and testing for civil, commercial, and defense projects, mentoring others along the way.

Requirements include a 4+ year track record in propulsion, FE modelling expertise, and familiarity with end-to-end product lifecycle. Base pay varies; strong benefits and growth opportunities are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical discipline).
• 5+ years of propulsion system development experience.
• US citizenship required.
• Expertise in propulsion modelling, static and transient analysis, and model validation with tool-based data.
• Experience with end-to-end development: requirements, design, qualification, production, testing.
• Experience with Systems Engineering V and risk-based decisions.
• Experience with propulsion systems using storable propellants.

Responsibilities

• Own development of new or existing propulsion products as technical lead.
• Perform performance calculations, modelling, and design analyses.
• Gather and manage requirements for propulsion projects.
• Provide systems engineering leadership within the team.
• Plan tests, set up instrumentation, run tests, and analyze data.
• Communicate with stakeholders inside and outside the team.
• Apply risk-based decisions to select best solutions.
• Assist project management: schedules, priorities, status updates.
• Mentor teammates on technical and professional skills.
• Contribute to Rocket Lab's engineering processes and documentation.

Skills

Propulsion modelling

Static & transient analysis

Model validation with test data

End-to-end development process

Systems Engineering V

Storable propellants knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering (aerospace/mechanical/mechatronics)

Masters or PhD (nice to have)

Tools

Jama

Python for data manipulation

NX CAD

GD&T

Teamcenter / Windchill

NI data acquisition systems

Amesim / EcosimPro / Simulink / Simscape

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I in Long Beach, CA to own system-level and component-level propulsion development. You will lead end-to-end design, analyses, and testing for civil, commercial, and defense projects, mentoring others along the way.

Requirements include a 4+ year track record in propulsion, FE modelling expertise, and familiarity with end-to-end product lifecycle. Base pay varies; strong benefits and growth opportunities are offered.