Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Lead

Rocket Lab Corporation; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant

Employee stock purchase program

Medical plans

Dental & vision coverage

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

HSA contribution

401(k) match

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer II to plan, execute engine and propulsion component testing, and own the test facility. You will drive test planning, instrumentation, data analysis, and reporting to support development, qualification, and production testing of propulsion systems.

You will lead a team, apply a systems engineering mindset, and collaborate with engineers and leadership to deliver reliable, high-performance results across

Qualifications

• 8+ years of rocket engine test engineering or equivalent high-performance field.
• Bachelor’s degree in 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 testing

Testing leadership

Instrumentation

Data analysis

Systems engineering mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

National Instruments PLC

Beckhoff PLC

Job description

Rocket Lab in Long Beach, CA is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer II to plan, execute engine and propulsion component testing, and own the test facility. You will drive test planning, instrumentation, data analysis, and reporting to support development, qualification, and production testing of propulsion systems.

You will lead a team, apply a systems engineering mindset, and collaborate with engineers and leadership to deliver reliable, high-performance results across