Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer II: Lead Tests

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Company equity

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and sick leave

Paid holidays

Parental leave

EV charging stations

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer II to plan, prepare for, and execute engine and propulsion component testing. You will own the test facility, equipment, and test operations, contributing to development, qualification, and production testing that supports our missions.

As part of the propulsion development team, you will work on engine and propulsion system development from cradle to grave, providing insights that improve reliability,

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in rocket engine test engineering, or equivalent high-performance field.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical engineering discipline).
• Ability to travel to test facilities and work off-site for extended periods.
• Prior work on engine test facilities and experience hot fire testing liquid rocket engines, including instrumentation, test operation, and data analysis.
• Expertise in instrumentation, automation, and data acquisition using either National Instruments or Beckhoff PLC.

Responsibilities

• Set and maintain best practices for all aspects of testing, ensuring a high standard of excellence across the team
• Provide guidance, training, mentorship, and technical leadership to team members on testing methodologies and processes
• Review and sign off on test plans and test reports, ensuring quality and compliance with requirements
• Support engineers and leadership with risk-based decision making to guide the team through development challenges
• Own the full testing lifecycle, including test planning, setup, instrumentation, execution, data analysis, and reporting
• Apply a systems engineering mindset to testing activities, integrating with broader engineering efforts
• Communicate regularly and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external to the team
• Define, document, and uphold standards of excellence through training, coaching, and review of others’ work
• Contribute to meaningful, career-defining projects alongside exceptional colleagues in a collaborative environment

Skills

Rocket engine test engineering

Travel to test facilities

Instrumentation & data acquisition

National Instruments / Beckhoff PLC

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or related)

Master’s or PhD

Tools

National Instruments

Beckhoff PLC

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer II to plan, prepare for, and execute engine and propulsion component testing. You will own the test facility, equipment, and test operations, contributing to development, qualification, and production testing that supports our missions.

As part of the propulsion development team, you will work on engine and propulsion system development from cradle to grave, providing insights that improve reliability,