Rocket Lab Corporation
Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I
About this role
Rocket Lab seeks a Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer I to lead the development of propulsion and fluidic systems for advanced space missions. You'll own component and system-level design, testing, and delivery while mentoring engineers and driving technical excellence across civil, commercial, and defense programs.
What you'll do
- Lead end-to-end development of propulsion system products and components, from conceptual design through production
- Perform detailed mechanical design, performance calculations, and CAD-based analysis for propulsion systems
- Plan, execute, and analyze test campaigns for propulsion systems and components
- Review and approve engineering drawings, specifications, and flight hardware releases
- Manage project schedules, priorities, and team tasking while communicating status to stakeholders
- Mentor engineers and technicians on technical and professional development
What they're looking for
- Propulsion system design and development (chemical or electrical propellants)
- CAD software (NX preferred) and PLM tools (Teamcenter preferred)
- Mechanical design and GD&T
- Test planning, instrumentation, and data analysis
- Python for data manipulation and analysis
- Requirements development and verification planning
- Flight hardware design review and approval process
- National Instruments data acquisition systems
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Rocket Lab Corporation
Rocket Lab builds spacecraft and satellites that it launches on its own rockets, developing the avionics, flight software, and ground systems needed to operate these vehicles in orbit. The company is hiring software engineers, test automation specialists, and spacecraft operations engineers to develop embedded flight software, design testing systems, and manage satellite fleet health across commercial and government missions.
View all jobs at Rocket Lab CorporationLikely interview questions
- Tell us about a propulsion system you've designed from concept through qualification—what were the key technical challenges and how did you resolve them?
- Describe your experience with storable propellants and different propulsion architectures (chemical vs. electrical).