Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I

Rocket Lab · 4015 USA Space Systems

Pay: $82,000–$125,000/yr
Where: Long Beach, CA
Posted: Sep 11

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. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

SPACE SYSTEMS

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, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives.

What you get

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 designs in CAD for propulsion system components, as well as performance calculations and analysis.
Review and approval of others' drawings, 3D PMI, reports, and specifications.
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.
Mentorship and coaching of people within the team on technical and professional development.
Defining and maintaining standard of excellence for their team through documentation, training, coaching, and review of others’ work.
Contributing to engineering process development and documentation at Rocket Lab related to areas of experience.