Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer - Lead Testing

Rocketlab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision coverage

HSA opti on with company coverage

Paid vacation & sick leave

11 paid holidays per year

Employee stock purchase program

Onsite gym & perks

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer I to plan, prepare, and execute engine and propulsion component testing. You will own the test facility, equipment, and operations, influencing reliability and manufacturability across the propulsion development program.

You will work on engine development from cradle to grave, collaborating with cross-functional teams and leading testing lifecycle from planning to reporting in a high-performance environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of rocket engine test engineering or equivalent high-performance field.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical 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 National Instruments or Beckhoff PLC.

Responsibilities

• Set and maintain best practices for all testing aspects, ensuring high standards across the team.
• Provide guidance, training, mentorship, and technical leadership on testing methodologies and processes.
• Review and sign off on test plans and test reports to ensure quality and compliance.

Skills

5+ years rocket engine test

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

travel to test facilities

hot fire testing experience

instrumentation & data acquisition

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

National Instruments

Beckhoff PLC

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer I to plan, prepare, and execute engine and propulsion component testing. You will own the test facility, equipment, and operations, influencing reliability and manufacturability across the propulsion development program.

You will work on engine development from cradle to grave, collaborating with cross-functional teams and leading testing lifecycle from planning to reporting in a high-performance environment.