Senior Structural Analyst I — Space Hardware + Equity

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grant

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Health insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Rocket Lab’s Senior Structural Analyst I role in Long Beach, CA, supports the Neutron program and Propulsion department. You’ll develop analytical models and perform multiphysics analyses to drive vehicle design, collaborating with the design team and documenting methods and results for reviews and qualification.

You’ll apply FEM, thermal and vibration expertise to hardware, instrument experiments, and contribute to fast-paced development with clear, standardized practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of experience performing thermal, structural and vibration analysis for aerospace hardware.
• Mastery in thermal, structural, vibration and life assessment analysis best practices.
• Mastery in ductile and brittle material failure theories.
• Prior experience instrumenting hardware using strain gauges, thermocouples, and accelerometers to anchor FEM results.
• Proficiency in finite element analysis using commercially available software packages.
• Proficiency using one or more of the following programming languages: Python, Matlab, VBA, and/or C++

Responsibilities

• Create system, subassemblies, and individual parts analytical models.
• Perform multiphysics structural, thermal, vibration analyses.
• Collaborate with the design team to finalize hardware designs to meet vehicle requirements.
• Generate and maintain clear documentation of all performed analyses, including inputs, methods, and results to ensure proper communication during hardware reviews and qualification.
• Support stage, engine and sub-system testing through data review and provide recommendations based on data and analysis.
• Develop standard practices for structural analysis and common hand calculations to expedite hardware development.
• Provide continued direction to the engineering team on highest value analysis and results deliverable schedule as the program evolves.

Skills

Finite element analysis

Multiphysics analysis

Thermal analysis

Vibration analysis

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering or related field

Tools

ANSYS Workbench

NASGRO

Python

Matlab

VBA

C++

Job description

Rocket Lab’s Senior Structural Analyst I role in Long Beach, CA, supports the Neutron program and Propulsion department. You’ll develop analytical models and perform multiphysics analyses to drive vehicle design, collaborating with the design team and documenting methods and results for reviews and qualification.

You’ll apply FEM, thermal and vibration expertise to hardware, instrument experiments, and contribute to fast-paced development with clear, standardized practices.