Development Engineer II - Thermal Protection Systems

Responsibilities

• Drive innovation by creating and rapidly iterating conceptual designs in CAD for thermal protection systems and subassemblies
• Design critical elements including composite assemblies, material stack-ups, joint details, seals, and metallic interfaces
• Lead the creation of detailed drawing packages and assembly models for production
• Own and manage analysis tools for 1D and 2D/3D thermal performance analysis
• Design and implement hardware, instrumentation, and test articles for development testing
• Support TPS solutions through qualification, manufacturing, and integration activities
• Collaborate with Thermofluids and structures teams on aerothermal topics
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers

Requirements

• Aerospace, mechanical, or mechatronic engineering degree
• 2-4 years of design experience with high performance mechanical or thermal systems
• Strong understanding of material science, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and aerodynamics
• 2 years of experience with CAD software and modeling tools
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Strong analytical skills and decision-making ability

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced skills with Python and MATLAB
• Familiarity with CFD tools such as StarCCM, Ansys Fluent, or COMSOL
• Experience with thermal testing, data acquisition, and test planning
• Expertise in composite or metallic structures
• Experience with spacecraft or launch vehicles
• Knowledge of transient thermal response modelling

About the Company

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more.