Senior Fluid Test Engineer

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 – all with the goal of opening access to space. Our rockets and satellites enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions worldwide, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation, climate‑change initiatives, national security, and new technology demonstrations.

Senior Fluid Test Engineer (I/II) based at Rocket Lab’s headquarters in Long Beach, CA. The engineer will bring test stands into the real world and assure they meet the stringent requirements needed for the Neutron program, supporting the Director of Manufacturing and Fluid Systems and standing up new test stands, supporting component designs early, and leading assembly and testing of Neutron stands.

• Lead design & build of the Neutron & Archimedes test area in Long Beach
• Develop software for environmental testing and simulation
• Own assembly, checkouts and development testing of Neutron testing stands
• Develop the procedures & processes for component/engine tests that will form the baseline for the Neutron program into the future
• Lead problem containment and root‑cause/corrective action investigations, when required
• Quickly analyze and resolve manufacturing discrepancies and non‑conformances
• Collaborate with the quality team to identify and drive quality‑related initiatives and improvements
• Perform structured root‑cause analysis of in‑process failures
• Liaison between production, quality, supply chain and design engineering staff for complex problem solving and process changes
• Identify, plan and execute capital equipment, machine, and layout upgrades to meet production requirements, including preparation of business cases
• Lead the continuous improvement process via Lean/Six Sigma tools and techniques
• Develop, introduce, and maintain new planning, production, quality, ERP, data collection and analysis, and other processes where none exist

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or another technical field
• 5+ years experience troubleshooting valves, actuators, regulators or similar fluid components during assembly, functional checkouts or development and qualification testing
• Experience developing and building safe, high‑pressure, pneumatic, hydrostatic, and cryogenic test stands
• Experience with instrumentation, controls, and data acquisition systems

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or another technical field
• 8+ years experience troubleshooting valves, actuators, regulators or similar fluid components during assembly, functional checkouts or development and qualification testing
• Experience developing and building safe, high‑pressure, pneumatic, hydrostatic, and cryogenic test stands
• Experience with instrumentation, controls, and data acquisition systems

• Master’s or PhD in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or another technical field
• 10+ years experience troubleshooting valves, actuators, regulators or similar
• Experience with aerospace component design, build & testing
• Previous history of planning, building, activating & operating component test stands for development, qualification and production acceptance testing
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes common to fluid components
• Experience with LabVIEW, Python, C, C++, MATLAB
• Extensive experience using fundamentals of fluid and structural mechanics to solve component issues in a fast‑paced environment

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Regular use of hands and fingers, operating computer keyboard and controls, and communicating verbally and in writing.
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings.
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise.
• Availability to work long hours and weekends as needed based on test and launch schedules.