Stage Fluids Engineer I: Aerospace Fluid Systems

Rocketlab; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 82,400 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

401(k) with company match

Top tier medical insurance (HMO, PPO)

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Stage Fluids Engineer I to own the design, build, and test of fluid systems for the Neutron launch vehicle. You will shape plumbing networks, validate through testing, and collaborate with propulsion, structures, and flight software teams to ensure reliable, reusable performance.

You’ll work on designs that enable aircraft‑like reusability, manage requirements, and integrate hardware into the vehicle while pushing the boundaries of cryogenic fluid dynamics for a new large

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or relevant engineering discipline.
• Working knowledge of how to select and design around fluid components such as valves, pressure vessels, flex elements & fittings.
• Working knowledge of DfM/DfAM, machining processes, and welding processes.
• Working knowledge of integration processes & quality control relevant to fluid systems & components.

Responsibilities

• Design plumbing systems, components, and their secondary structures.
• Analyze these systems and components in the harsh and dynamic environments of launch.
• Model these systems to characterize and predict system behavior at all conditions.
• Test and qualify these systems and components.
• Manage requirements, realization, and implementation of systems in the larger launch vehicle context.
• Integrate your hardware into the vehicle.
• Review data from component, system, and vehicle level testing to optimize and improve future designs.
• Collaborate with components, propulsion, structures, mechanical, operations, and flight software teams to develop and define vehicle functions.
• Create tools to enhance the team’s analysis capabilities, streamline workflow and optimize launch operations.

Skills

Fluid component design

DfM/DfAM

Fluid integration & QC

Cross-functional collaboration

Cryogenic fluids experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

REFPROP

AMESIM

GFSSP

ANSYS

NASTRAN

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

Python

Job description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Stage Fluids Engineer I to own the design, build, and test of fluid systems for the Neutron launch vehicle. You will shape plumbing networks, validate through testing, and collaborate with propulsion, structures, and flight software teams to ensure reliable, reusable performance.

You’ll work on designs that enable aircraft‑like reusability, manage requirements, and integrate hardware into the vehicle while pushing the boundaries of cryogenic fluid dynamics for a new large