Senior Systems Engineer II - Spacecraft Design 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, expand humanity's reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The Role
Based in Long Beach, CA, you will lead the mechanical formulation of all new satellite systems, including structures, mechanisms, and satellite bus configurations to support capture of new civil, national security, and commercial business.
You will manage development and maintenance of mass and mechanical technical budgets, mechanical requirements definition, configuration trades, test planning and execution, and overall management of the mechanical systems engineering process, including validation of customer requirements. You will support the Vice President of Business Development and Strategy and the broader Space Systems Business Development organization with deliverables for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.
What You'll Do
- Lead Rocket Lab's satellite mechanical engineering formulation supporting business development and new opportunity capture
- Develop high performance and lightweight satellite bus configurations, structures, and mechanisms for customers
- Develop concepts and satellite configurations for high value science and interplanetary missions
- Define mechanisms and deployment systems on modern satellite systems
- Develop and maintain mass and mechanical technical budgets for vehicle performance
- Develop mechanical system requirements and verification techniques
- Perform structural, mechanism, and packaging analyses across vehicle functions, including hand-calcs and FEA
- Develop test methods and data analysis for structural, thermal, and vibration testing
- Lead and own mechanical technical development of spacecraft missions from conceptual design through production, test, and operation
- Create and maintain product definition through CAD, production drawings, and test and operations procedures
- Assist with program and product management, including development schedules, vendors, and budgets
- Develop mechanical interface specifications, CONOPS definition, and other design documents in collaboration with team members
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or other technical discipline
- 5+ years of engineering experience in the aerospace industry
- Experience supporting satellite and/or spacecraft development programs
- Experience with CAD modeling and drawing
- US citizenship required due to program requirements
Nice to Have
- Active security clearance
- Master's or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or other technical engineering discipline
- Spacecraft/satellite design experience
- Rapid conceptual design iteration experience
- Experience developing satellite deployment systems and mechanisms
- Exceptional mechanical mechanism problem-solving skills
- Ability to perform hand-calcs and FEA to drive design decisions
- Ability to apply GD&T to component designs
- Hands-on development and testing experience
- Experience with analysis and interpretation of test data (thermal, vibe)
- Understanding of key spacecraft subsystems and their interfaces, including attitude determination and control (ADCS), electrical power systems (EPS), space-ground communications, on-orbit command and data handling (C&DH), and thermal control
- Thorough understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics
- Experience with requirement management tools such as JAMA or DOORS
- General spacecraft systems engineering knowledge and experience with requirements assessments and interface control document generation
- Ability to take a product from concept through to production with little supervision
- Highly self-motivated and able to work autonomously
- Highly effective and professional verbal and written communication skills with team and internal/external customers
- Ability to work in a dynamic environment with competing priorities
Compensation
- Base salary: $132,000 to $198,000 USD
- Total compensation (base and equity): $165,000 to $255,000 USD
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package including company stock as part of total compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Program (15% discount), medical plans (HMO, PPO, zero cost HDHP with 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 company merchandise, and additional employee discounts.
Working Conditions
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.