Turbomachinery Engineer II / Senior Turbomachinery Engineer I/II

Rocket Lab; Long Beach (CA); Vor Ort; USD 126.000 - 176.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Top-tier medical coverage

Paid vacation and sick leave

401(k) with company match

Onsite gym

Discounted employee stock purchase program

Zusammenfassung

Rocket Lab is looking for a Turbomachinery Engineer to design and develop hardware for the Archimedes engine based in Long Beach, CA. This role includes full life-cycle ownership of turbopump design and significant responsibility in meeting production milestones.

Candidates should have a background in mechanical or aerospace engineering, along with experience in turbomachinery design and relevant software. The position offers competitive compensation and a dynamic work environment focused on innovation and teamwork.

Qualifikationen

• 2+ years of turbomachinery design experience for Engineer II level.
• 5+ years for Senior Engineer I level.
• 8+ years for Senior Engineer II level.

Aufgaben

• Design and develop turbomachinery hardware for the Archimedes engine.
• Drive design, manufacturing, testing, and flight to meet milestones.
• Ensure testing satisfies certification requirements.

Kenntnisse

Turbomachinery design experience

Mechanical design principles

Fluid dynamics principles

Experience with commercial design and analysis software

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

NX

Ansys

BladeGen

StarCCM

Jobbeschreibung

Long Beach, CA

Rocket Lab is an end‑to‑end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Neutron Team

Rocket Lab’s Neutron team is responsible for bringing our new large rocket Neutron and its launch and test sites to life. From designing and testing Neutron’s structures and components, to firing up its new Archimedes engines, to setting up Neutron’s launch pads and test sites across the United States, joining the Neutron team is your opportunity to help launch a new large rocket for the very first time.

Turbomachinery Engineer

The Turbomachinery Engineer position will be based out of Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA. The role is responsible for the design and development of the turbomachinery hardware for the Archimedes engine and will provide the opportunity for full life‑cycle ownership of clean‑sheet turbopump design. You will support the Neutron and Archimedes teams, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

What You’ll Get to Do

• Responsible engineer of significant turbomachinery components/systems
• Drive design, manufacturing, testing, and flight to meet cost, life, reusability, and reliability milestones
• Work with other teams and other members of turbomachinery team to achieve design goals
• Design and analyze rotating and stationary turbomachinery components in the Archimedes turbomachinery
• This will include both hydrodynamics, mechanical, secondary systems, and integrated analysis of the turbomachinery
• Next‑generation flowpath design and benchmarking of existing designs
• Work with turbomachinery team to drive pump head and suction performance improvements
• Support manufacturing of turbomachinery components
• Work with Manufacturing team to design components for optimal manufacturability
• Support component‑level and engine‑level testing
• Work with other engine teams to ensure that pump testing needs are enveloped in engine development, qualification, and acceptance testing campaigns
• Ensure testing satisfies certification requirements
• Support flight campaign preparations, flight operations, flight data and hardware review, and reuse campaigns
• Evaluate early flight data to support certification efforts
• Work with vehicle fluids teams to ensure stable pump operation and performance in all phases of flight, leveraging test and other resources
• As a subject‑matter expert, help define the methodology used across the company for turbomachinery design, analysis, manufacturing, and test
• Travel on an occasional basis to engineering offices, test sites, and launch sites to support development of turbomachinery
• Serve as launch site engineering team liaison on an occasional basis for rapid on‑site support

Note: This position can be hired at the Level II, Senior Engineer I, or Senior Engineer II level.

Qualifications – Turbomachinery Engineer II

• Bachelor’s degree in a mechanical or aerospace engineering or discipline or equivalent
• 2+ years of turbomachinery design experience
• Experience with commercial design and analysis software
• Fundamental understanding of mechanical design and fluid dynamics principles

Qualifications – Senior Turbomachinery Engineer I

• Bachelor’s degree in a mechanical or aerospace engineering or discipline or equivalent
• 5+ years of turbomachinery design experience
• Experience with commercial design and analysis software
• Fundamental understanding of mechanical design and fluid dynamics principles

Qualifications – Senior Turbomachinery Engineer II

• Bachelor’s degree in a mechanical or aerospace engineering or discipline or equivalent
• 8+ years of turbomachinery design experience
• Experience with commercial design and analysis software
• Fundamental understanding of mechanical design and fluid dynamics principles

Nice to Have

• Proficiency in GD&T
• Professional experience with NX, Ansys & BladeGen, StarCCM
• Rocket turbomachinery experience and flowpath design
• Experience with compressible flows, cryogenic and real‑gas fluids
• Experience with best practices for design, qualification and production
• Experience with a scrappy development environment

Additional Requirements

• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings

Base Pay Range (CA Only)

$126,000 - $176,000 USD

What to Expect

We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out‑think, out‑work, and out‑pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Benefits

Employees may receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including top‑tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100 % company‑sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent‑care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Other perks include a discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.