Rocket Lab is a vertically integrated provider of small launch services, satellites, and spacecraft components. Our mission is to open access to space to improve life on Earth. Our team is over 1,500 people strong and we’re adding to it every week. Collaboration is at our core – every idea is heard, and everyone makes a difference. Teams are nimble, decisions are made quickly, and we are action oriented.

NEUTRON

Neutron is a medium lift launch vehicle capable of delivering the mega constellations of tomorrow, high assurance payloads, and human spaceflight. As a highly reusable launch platform, Neutron will deliver a highly cost-effective and reliable launch solution leveraging Rocket Lab’s proven execution history with the Electron program. If you’re interested in joining a high performing team, pushing the boundaries with a clean sheet development of re-usable liquid launch vehicle, this is your opportunity!

Senior Engineer, Turbomachinery

The Senior Engineer, Turbomachinery position is based out of Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA. This role is responsible for the design and development of the turbomachinery hardware for the Archimedes engine and will provide the opportunity for full life cycle ownership of clean sheet turbopump design. You will support the Neutron and Archimedes teams, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

Responsible engineer of significant turbomachinery components/systems

- Drive design, manufacturing, testing, and flight to meet cost, life, reusability, and reliability milestones
- Work with other teams and other members of turbomachinery team to achieve design goals

- Design and analyze rotating and stationary turbomachinery components in the Archimedes turbomachinery.

- This will include both hydrodynamics, mechanical, secondary systems, and integrated analysis of the turbomachinery

Support manufacturing of turbomachinery components

- Work with Manufacturing to identify critical capabilities and capital requirements
- Work with Manufacturing team to design components for optimal manufacturability

- Evaluate and resolve manufacturing issues for prototype manufacturing studies as well as at-rate manufacturing

Support component level and engine level testing.

- Define and drive testing campaigns to ensure performance and reliability requirements are met.
- Work with Test team to ensure test capabilities meet needs for pump requirement verification
- Work with other engine teams to ensure that pump testing needs are enveloped in engine development, qualification, and acceptance testing campaigns

- Ensure testing satisfies certification requirements

Support flight campaign preparations, flight operations, flight data and hardware review, and reuse campaigns

- Evaluate early flight data to support certification efforts
- Develop and evaluate recurring flight data review templates to monitor hardware health

As a subject matter expert, help define the methodology used across the company for turbomachinery design, analysis, manufacturing, and test.

Travel on an occasional basis to engineering offices, test sites, and launch sites to support development of turbomachinery
Serve as launch site engineering team liaison on an occasional basis for rapid on-site support

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or discipline or equivalent
5+ years of turbomachinery design experience

Experience with commercial analysis software
Fundamental understanding of mechanical design principles

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

Proficiency in GD&T
Professional experience with NX, Ansys,

Rocket turbomachinery experience
Experience with best practices for design, qualification and production
Experience with a scrappy development environment

The expected salary range for the position is displayed in accordance with the California Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Final agreed upon compensation is based upon individual qualifications and experience.

In addition to base salary, Rocket Lab offers a comprehensive total compensation offer package based on individual qualifications and experience, including company stock. Employees will also be eligible for medical, dental, vision coverage, 401(k) retirement plan options, and to purchase discounted stock through Rocket Lab's Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Base Pay Range (CA Only)

$100,000—$140,000 USD

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations fromthe U.S Department of State.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.