Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer

Responsibilities

• Support the Business Development team with proposals and mission concepts
• Develop high performance and lightweight satellite systems, mechanisms, and satellite bus configurations
• Develop concepts and satellite configurations for high value science and interplanetary missions
• Own component designs from conceptual design through production, test, and operation
• Perform hand-calcs and FEA to drive design decisions
• Lead key component design, manufacturing, and test reviews
• Create and maintain product definition through CAD, production drawings, and test and operations procedures
• Manage development schedules, vendors, budgets, and other project deliverables

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or other engineering discipline
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience (for Level I)
• 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience (for Level II)
• Experience with CAD modeling and drawing
• U.S. citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret or TS clearance
• Master’s or PhD in aerospace or mechanical engineering
• Spacecraft or satellite design experience
• Rapid conceptual design iteration experience
• Exceptional mechanical mechanism problem-solving skills
• Hands-on development and testing experience
• Experience with analysis and interpretation of test data (Thermal, Vibe)
• Ability to apply GD&T to component designs
• Experience developing satellite deployment systems
• General spacecraft systems engineering knowledge

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.