Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Components Engineer II Verified today

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, and expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Components Engineer II for our propulsion engineering team in Long Beach, CA. You will take system-level and component-level ownership of space systems propulsion and fluidic development, supporting our Space Systems division and leading programs for civil, commercial, and defense customers.

What You Will Do

• Own development of new or existing propulsion products and systems, acting as technical lead through the end-to-end development process
• Create conceptual and detailed mechanical designs in CAD for propulsion components, and perform performance calculations and analysis
• Review and approve drawings, 3D PMI, reports, and specifications from other engineers
• Plan and execute testing, including setup, instrumentation, data collection, and analysis
• Communicate with project stakeholders internal and external to guide technical decisions
• Make technical risk-based decisions to identify the right solutions for engineering challenges
• Manage project schedules, identify priorities, task team members, and report status to leadership
• Mentor and coach team members on technical and professional development
• Define and maintain excellence standards through documentation, training, and review of others' work
• Contribute to engineering process development and documentation at Rocket Lab

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in propulsion system development or equivalent high-performance field
• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, or related technical engineering discipline
• Detailed mechanical design experience using NX (preferred) or equivalent industry standard CAD software
• Experience with Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar
• Track record of design reviews and approving release of flight parts, qualification reports, and decisions for flight hardware
• Experience with end-to-end development including requirements gathering, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work well in a team environment
• Hands-on integration and testing experience, ideally using NI equipment and software
• Experience working on propulsion systems utilizing different storable propellants such as electrical and chemical
• US citizenship and willingness to obtain a security clearance required due to program requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Genuine passion for engineering with a curious mindset and willingness to learn
• Comfort working with high levels of ambiguity and making decisions using engineering principles, literature, standards, risk assessments, test data, and physics-based models
• Ability to identify necessary steps to achieve technical goals, schedule them in a plan, and manage delivery
• Experience developing requirement and verification sets, writing test plans, performing testing, and writing test reports
• Python capability for data manipulation and post-processing
• Demonstrated hands-on engineering skills inside or outside the workplace
• Experience with GD&T and engineering drawings
• Experience using National Instruments data acquisition systems
• Experience with testing and troubleshooting flight hardware
• Master's or PhD

Compensation

Base salary: USD 132,000 to 220,000. Total compensation including equity: USD 165,000 to 277,000. Anticipated annual equity grant value is designed around function, level, experience, and other factors; realized value depends on vesting and stock-price performance.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package includes company stock as part of total compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount on company stock, top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and zero-cost HDHP option with significant HSA company contribution), dental and vision coverage, paid vacation and sick time, 11 paid holidays, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers where available, discounted gym memberships, complimentary snacks and beverages, 50% employee discount on merchandise store, and various other employee discounts.

Work Environment

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including ITAR, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.