Senior Spacecraft Structural Analysis Engineer - TS​/SCI Clearance

Position: Senior Spacecraft Structural Analysis Engineer I - TS/SCI Clearance
ABOUT ROCKET LABRocket 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 SYSTEMSAt 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. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it’s a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space — our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

SENIOR SPACECRAFT STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ENGINEER I – TS/SCI CLEARANCEBased out of Rocket Lab's global headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Spacecraft Structural Analysis Engineer I contributes to the analysis, design validation, and future improvements of our suite of Space Systems and Space Components. You will be expected to define loads and environments, perform detailed simulations and physics-based analysis, guide design, and help validate analysis, design, and system performance through test.

You will support the Vehicle Design Director and Space Systems organization, with deliverables required for internal leadership, board of directors, and investors.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

Define, process, and interpret static and dynamic ground test & flight data, including: sensor selection, data acquisition and validation, and environmental determination (random vibration, shock, quasi-static, acoustic, pressure, and thermal)
Perform, validate, and document structural analyses of primary and secondary vehicle structures, including: finite element model verification and validation, material selection, performance of trade-off studies, and mass optimization

Perform structural and dynamic simulations, including: static, modal, random vibration, buckling, and thermoelastic

Work closely with design and test engineers to iterate through design concepts, determine test requirements, and demonstrate positive structural margins

Define test requirements and directly support testing of vehicle subsystems and components

Lead technical projects and programs, as required, both within analysis and across disciplines and teams

Help implement new theory and tools within the team and establish best practices in areas of technical expertise QUALIFICATIONS YOU’LL BRING:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline

Active TS/SCI clearanceU.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements5+ years of engineering experience in the aerospace industry

Experience using NX Nastran, NX CAD, and Teamcenter packages

Experience in spacecraft-level structural test campaign design, execution, data processing, and validation THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
Master’s or PhD in mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline

Experience in full satellite system development cycles, from concept to launch

Experience in analyzing additive manufactured parts

Experience with sensor selection and data…