Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I - Secret Clearance Verified today

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more. The Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit. Rocket Lab's Space Systems business designs and builds satellites, payloads, and components, including spacecraft selected for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Role

We're seeking a Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I for our propulsion engineering team in Long Beach, CA. You will own system-level and component-level development of space systems propulsion and fluidic systems for civil, commercial, and defense customers.

What You'll Do

• Own development of new or existing propulsion products or systems, acting as technical lead through the end-to-end development process
• Perform conceptual and detailed performance calculations, systems modelling, analysis, and system design
• Gather, define, and manage requirements
• Lead systems engineering activities within your team
• Plan and execute tests, including instrumentation setup, execution, and data analysis
• Communicate with project stakeholders internal and external to the team
• Make technical risk-based decisions to identify the best engineering solutions
• Manage project schedules, priorities, task assignments, and status communication to leadership
• Mentor and coach team members on technical and professional development
• Define and maintain standards of excellence through documentation, training, and review of others' work
• Contribute to engineering process development and documentation at Rocket Lab

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical discipline)
• 5 or more years of experience in propulsion system development, or other high-performance field
• Active Secret clearance with TS/SCI eligibility
• US citizenship required due to program requirements
• Expertise in propulsion system modelling, static and transient analysis, and model validation using software such as Amesim, EcosimPro, Simulink, or Simscape
• Experience with end-to-end development including requirements gathering, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing
• Experience with all steps in the Systems Engineering V and risk-based decision making
• Experience working on propulsion systems utilizing different storable propellants, such as electrical and chemical

Desirable Qualifications

• Genuine passion for engineering with a curious mindset and willingness to learn
• Demonstrated hands-on engineering skills inside or outside the workplace
• Comfort working with high levels of ambiguity
• Ability to make decisions using basic engineering principles, available literature and standards, technical risk assessments, test data, and physics-based models
• Experience identifying necessary steps to achieve technical goals, scheduling them in a plan, and managing delivery
• Experience with Jama
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work well in a team environment
• Capability using Python for data manipulation and post-processing
• Detailed mechanical design experience using NX (preferred) or equivalent industry standard CAD software
• Experience with GD&T and engineering drawings
• Experience using Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar
• Experience using National Instruments data acquisition systems
• Experience with testing and troubleshooting flight hardware
• Master's or PhD

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary range for California: $115,000 to $158,000 USD. Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Total rewards package includes company equity and benefits: top tier medical HMO, PPO and 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, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other 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.