Principal Combustion Devices Engineer Verified today
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems. We develop the Electron rocket (third most launched worldwide in 2024) and are now building Neutron, a reusable medium-lift launch vehicle for mega constellations, interplanetary payloads, and human spaceflight missions.
The Role
Based in Long Beach, CA, you will take ownership of combustion device development for the Neutron programme. You'll be responsible for one or more of the following: preburners, main injectors, thrust chamber assemblies, and vacuum nozzles. These components operate in the 200,000 lbf Archimedes engine, which uses an ox-rich, staged combustion architecture.
You will own all aspects of your component: design and analysis, manufacturing and test support, and successful flights and high-cadence re-flights.
What You'll Do
- Design, analyze, and perform trade studies to meet programmatic targets
- Define requirements, test plans, and flight qualification plans
- Work with turbomachinery and engine systems teams to deliver a high-performance product that iterates quickly
- Collaborate with manufacturing and build engineers to design cost-effective, easily manufacturable parts
- Work with test and launch teams to interpret data and enable high-cadence testing, flights, and re-flights
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent
- 12+ years of combustion device design experience
- In-depth knowledge of combustion and fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and structural mechanics
- Fundamental understanding of design principles and manufacturing methods
Nice to Have
- Master's degree or PhD
- Advanced proficiency in NX, ANSYS Mechanical, StarCCM, MATLAB, and GD&T
- Proficiency in niche software: TDK, ROCCID, PERCORP, CEA, ROCETS
- Reacting flow CFD
- Expertise in high-speed data/video analysis in time and frequency domains
- Experience designing reusable, propulsively landing rocket engines
- Experience in iterative, scrappy development environments
Compensation
Base salary: $162,000 to $270,000 USD. Total compensation (base and equity): $211,500 to $349,500 USD.
You will receive company stock as part of your total compensation package. Benefits include an Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount, medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero-cost HDHP with HSA contribution), dental and vision, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers (where available), discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merchandise, and various other employee discounts.
Working Conditions
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work. Occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.
Important Information
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce.
Background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offer. Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.