Senior Electric Propulsion Engineer II

At Rocket Lab, we’re not just launching rockets — we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separati...

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Develop...

We’re currently seeking a Senior Electric Propulsion Engineer for our propulsion engineering team based out of Long Beach, CA. As an Electric Propulsion Engineer, you are responsible for system-level and component-level ownership of space systems propulsion and fluidic development. These teams support our Space Syst...

Own development of new or existing products or systems, acting as technical lead to guide team through end-to-end development process
Conceptual and detailed performance calculations, systems modelling, analysis, and system designs 
Requirements gathering, definition, and management 
Systems engineering activities and leadership within the team
Test planning, setup, instrumentation, execution, and data analysis 
Communicate with project stakeholders internal and external to the team
Technical risk-based decision making to the right/best solution when faced with an engineering challenge  
Project management, including: schedule building and maintenance, identifying top priority items, tasking of other engineers and technicians, and communication of status to leadership and other teams  
Mentor and coach people within the team on technical and professional development
Define and maintain standard of excellence for their team through documentation, training, coaching, and review of others’ work  
Contribute to engineering process development and documentation at Rocket Lab related to areas of experience

8+ years of experience in propulsion system development, or equivalent high-performance field 
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical engineering discipline)  
Expertise in propulsion system modelling, static and transient analysis, and model validation using test data using software such as Amesim, EcosimPro, Simulink, or Simscape  
Experience with end-to-end development process including gathering requirements, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing 
Strong grasp of all steps in the Systems Engineering V and risk-based decision making
Experience working on electric propulsion systems  
U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements 
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance 
A genuine passion for engineering, curious mindset, and willingness to learn 
Comfortable working with high levels of ambiguity
Makes decisions using basic engineering principles, available literature and standards, technical risk assessments, test data, and physics-based models 
Practice in identifying the necessary steps to achieve high level technical goals, scheduling them in a plan, and managing delivery against that plan
Experience with Jama  
Capabilities 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  
Masters or PhD
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well within a team environment  
Demonstrated hands on engineering skills, inside or outside the workplace  

Citizenship of AU / NZ / EU / NATO