Rocket Lab Corporation
Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer II
About this role
Rocket Lab seeks a Spacecraft Propulsion Systems Engineer II in Long Beach, CA to lead system and component-level development of propulsion and fluidic subsystems for civil, commercial, and defense space missions. You'll own products from concept through production, guide engineering teams, and drive technical decisions while mentoring junior staff.
What you'll do
- Own end-to-end development of propulsion products or systems as technical lead
- Perform conceptual and detailed performance calculations, systems modeling, and analysis
- Gather requirements, manage specifications, and lead systems engineering activities
- Plan and execute tests, manage instrumentation, and analyze results
- Manage project schedules, prioritize deliverables, and task team members
- Mentor junior engineers and establish documentation and quality standards
What they're looking for
- Propulsion system development and design
- Systems engineering and V-model methodology
- Performance modeling software (AMESIM, EcosimPro, Simulink, Simscape)
- Mechanical CAD design (NX preferred)
- Python for data analysis and post-processing
- GD&T and engineering drawing interpretation
- Project management and technical leadership
- Test planning and 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
- Describe your experience with propulsion system development—what specific subsystems or propellants have you worked with?
- Walk us through your approach to creating a systems model for a new propulsion subsystem and validating it against test data.