Rocket Lab Corporation
Spacecraft Thermal Engineer II
About this role
Rocket Lab seeks a Spacecraft Thermal Engineer II in Long Beach, CA to lead thermal design, modeling, analysis, and testing for space vehicles. You'll develop thermal models, conduct design trade studies, oversee component testing, and validate performance using flight data while supporting internal and external stakeholders.
What you'll do
- Perform thermal modeling and analysis of spacecraft and vehicles
- Conduct thermal design trade studies balancing performance, resources, risk, cost, and schedule
- Design and execute thermal testing for spacecraft components and assemblies
- Identify and resolve thermal design and performance issues
- Validate thermal models using test and in-flight data
- Coordinate with engineering teams and research thermal control material vendors
What they're looking for
- Thermal modeling and analysis
- Heat transfer fundamentals
- Thermal Desktop or similar analysis software
- Siemens NX and Teamcenter
- Thermal testing and validation
- Passive thermal management techniques
- Technical communication
- Python or MATLAB scripting
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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
- Walk us through a thermal design trade study you've conducted—how did you balance competing requirements like performance, cost, and schedule?
- Describe your experience with thermal modeling software; which tools have you used and for what types of analyses?