Development Engineer
Rocket Lab · Auckland, New Zealand · 2mo ago
ABOUT ROCKET LAB
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.
ABOUT ENGINEERING AT ROCKET LAB:
Engineering is the heart of Rocket Lab. We build world-class rockets and spacecraft and we launch them, often.
As a Development Engineer, you'll design, test and refine the systems that get Electron to orbit: tanks, interstages, fairings, separation and landing mechanisms, aerodynamic controls, fluid systems and thermal protection.
First sketch to flight-ready hardware. You'll iterate in CAD with analysis and manufacturing engineers, release the drawings that get parts built, then push your hardware to its limits on the test stand until it's ready to fly.
It's hands-on, fast-paced problem solving where rapid innovation meets the highest safety standards and your hardware launches.
WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:
You'll own hardware. Real, load bearing, propellant-holding, separation-critical hardware:
- Structures - propellant tanks, interstages, composite fairings
- Mechanisms - stage separation systems
- Fluids - pressurant systems, propellant management, ignition systems, reaction control systems
- Thermal - thermal protection systems, HVAC
And you'll own it end to end. You'll work shoulder to shoulder with analysis engineers who'll tell you what the math says, and manufacturing engineers who'll tell you what's buildable. Then you'll find the answer that satisfies both, plus gravity, plus the schedule.
Some days you're deep in a dynamic dataset, other days you're on the production floor refining designs with critical feedback sessions from technicians or in the development lab testing concepts or flight ready designs. This is not just a desk job.
YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:
- A degree in aerospace, mechanical, mechatronic, fluidic engineering or equivalent experience
- 3+ years developing and testing high-performance mechanical systems, ideally structures and/or mechanisms
- Hands-on fluency with test instrumentation load cells, accelerometers, strain gauges, pressure transducers from setup through to interpreting static and dynamic data
- Strong analytical instincts: you can zoom in on a fastener and out to the full vehicle, and make the right call at both scales
- Excellent communication skills and a genuine team-first mindset
- A relentless bias toward done efficiently, effectively, and to the highest quality standard
- Tenacity, a can-do attitude, and sound judgement when the clock is running
THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:
- Experience in one of the following domain areas: Composites structures, Large scale structural testing, Cryogenic systems, Pressurised systems, Mechanical moving assemblies
- Experience with CAD software such as NX (preferred), Solidworks, CATIA
- Experience using Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar
- Experience using National Instruments data acquisition systems
- Programming in C+, matlab, labview or other
- Experience writing/reviewing safety risk assessments
If the above sounds like you apply now!
WHAT TO EXPECT
We’re on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that’s not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work, and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.
Important information:
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.
Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:
For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.