Propulsion Components Engineer I​/II

Company Overview

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. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.

Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds an extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft selected for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Propulsion Components Engineer I/II – Long Beach, CA. This role involves system‑level and component‑level ownership of space systems propulsion and fluidic development, supporting civil, commercial, and defense customers.

• Owning development of new or existing products or systems, acting as technical lead to guide the team through end‑to‑end development.
• 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.
• Communicating with project stakeholders internal and external to the team.
• Technical risk‑based decision making to identify the best solution when faced with an engineering challenge.
• Project management including schedule building and maintenance, identifying top priority items, tasking other engineers and technicians, and communicating status to leadership and other teams.
• Mentorship and coaching of team members on technical and professional development.
• Defining and maintaining a standard of excellence through documentation, training, coaching, and review of others’ work.
• Contributing to engineering process development and documentation at Rocket Lab related to areas of experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical engineering discipline).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work well within a team environment.
• US citizenship and willingness to obtain a security clearance required due to program requirements.

• 2+ 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).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work well within a team environment.
• US citizenship and willingness to obtain a security clearance required due to program requirements.

• Passion for engineering, curious mindset, and willingness to learn.
• Detailed mechanical design experience using NX (preferred) or equivalent industry standard CAD software and Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter, Windchill, or similar.
• Comfort with high levels of ambiguity; making decisions using engineering principles, literature, standards, risk assessments, test data, and physics‑based models.
• Experience with propulsion systems utilizing different storable propellants, such as electrical and chemical.
• Track record of design reviews and approving release of flight parts, qualification reports, and decisions for flight hardware.
• Experience with requirement and verification sets, writing test plans, performing testing, and writing test reports.
• Experience with end‑to‑end development process including requirements, detailed design, qualification, production, and acceptance testing.
• Programming skills (Python for data manipulation and post‑processing).
• Hands‑on integration and testing experience (ideally using NI…