Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer I​/II

Overview

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more. Our rockets and satellites enable missions in scientific exploration, Earth observation, climate initiatives, national security, and new technology demonstrations. We build satellites and spacecraft for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer – Based at Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA. The Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer leads the mechanical formulation of new satellite systems, including structures, mechanisms, and satellite bus configurations to support civil, national security, and commercial opportunities. Responsibilities include managing mass and mechanical budgets, defining mechanical requirements, conducting trades, planning and executing tests, and overseeing the mechanical systems engineering process and validation of customer requirements.

You will support the Vice President of Business Development and Strategy and the broader Space Systems Business Development organization, delivering materials for internal leadership, board, and investors. (This role can be hired at Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer I or II.)

• Lead Rocket Lab’s satellite mechanical engineering formulation to support business development and new opportunity capture.
• Develop high-performance and lightweight satellite bus configurations, structures, and mechanisms for customers.
• Develop concepts and satellite configurations for high-value science and interplanetary missions.
• Define mechanisms and deployment systems for modern satellite systems/bus.
• Develop and maintain mass and mechanical budgets for vehicle performance; define mechanical system requirements and verification techniques.
• Perform structural, mechanism, and packaging analyses across vehicle functions, including hand-calcs and finite element analysis (FEA).
• Develop test methods and analyze data (structural, thermal, vibration).
• Lead and own mechanical development of spacecraft missions from concept through production, test, and operation.
• Create and maintain product definitions through CAD, production drawings, and test/operational procedures.
• Assist with program and product management, including schedules, vendors, and budgets.
• Collaborate to develop mechanical interface specifications, CONOPS definitions, and other design documents.

Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer I

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or other technical discipline.
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience in the aerospace industry.
• Experience supporting satellite and/or spacecraft development programs.
• Experience with CAD modeling and drawing.
• US citizenship is required due to program requirements.

Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer II

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or other technical engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience in the aerospace industry.
• Experience supporting satellite and/or spacecraft development programs.
• Experience with CAD modeling and drawing.
• US citizenship is required due to program requirements.

• Active security clearance.
• Master’s or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related field.
• Spacecraft/satellite design experience; rapid conceptual design iteration.
• Experience developing satellite deployment systems and mechanisms.
• Strong problem-solving skills in mechanical mechanisms; ability to perform hand-calcs and FEA to drive design decisions.
• Ability to apply GD&T to component designs; hands-on development and testing experience.
• Experience with analysis and interpretation of test data (thermal, vibration); understanding of subsystems such as ADCS, EPS, communications, C&DH, and thermal control.
• Understanding of space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics.
• Experience with requirement management tools (e.g., JAMA or DOORS) and interface control documents.
• Ability to take a product from concept to production with limited supervision; highly self-motivated and…