Senior Combustion Devices Engineer II / Principal Combustion Devices Engineer

NEUTRON 

Neutron is a medium-lift launch vehicle being developed by Rocket Lab, a publicly traded end-to-end space company. The rocket can deliver the mega constellations of tomorrow, enable interplanetary payloads, and support human spaceflight. As a reusable platform, Neutron will deliver a very cost-effective and reliable launch solution leveraging Rocket Lab’s proven history with Electron – the third most launched rocket, worldwide, in 2024. If you’re interested in joining an incredible team in a fast-paced and rewarding environment, this is your opportunity. 

SENIOR COMBUSTION DEVICES ENGINEER II / PRINCIPAL COMBUSTION DEVICES ENGINEER

Based out of Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Principal/Senior Combustion Devices Engineer will be responsible for the development of one or more combustion devices (preburners, main injectors, thrust chambers assemblies and vacuum nozzles). These devices are an integral portion of the 200,000 lbf Archimedes engine, which operates in a demanding but efficient ox-rich, staged combustion architecture.

In this role, you’ll take ownership of all aspects of a component: design and analysis, manufacturing and test support, and successful flights and subsequent, high-cadence, re-flights. By doing so, you will help propel the Neutron rocket, expanding human capabilities in space and providing value to the company and its shareholders.

Please note: This position can be hired as a Senior Combustion Devices Engineer II or Principal Combustion Devices Engineer Level.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO: 

• Design, analyze, and perform trades studies to achieve programmatic targets. 
• Define requirements, test and flight qualification plans.  
• Work with the interface owners, like turbomachinery and engine systems teams, to make a high-end product that could be iterated fast and seamlessly.
• Work with manufacturing and build engineers to design easily manufacturable, cost-effective, beautiful parts.
• Work with the test and launch teams to interpret data and provide solutions to enable a high cadence – of tests, flights and re-flights. 

AS A SENIOR COMBUSTION DEVICES ENGINEER II, YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent 
• 8+ years of combustion device design experience
• In-depth knowledge of combustion and fluid dynamics, heat transfer and structural mechanics. 
• Fundamental understanding of design principals and manufacturing methods.

AS A PRINCIPAL COMBUSTION DEVICES ENGINEER, YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent 
• 12+ years of combustion device design experience
• In-depth knowledge of combustion and fluid dynamics, heat transfer and structural mechanics. 
• Fundamental understanding of design principals and manufacturing methods.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: 

• Master’s or a PhD.
• Advanced proficiency in NX, ANSYS Mechanical, StarCCM, MATLAB and GD&T.
• Proficiency in niche software like: TDK, ROCCID, PERCORP, CEA, ROCETS.
• Reacting flow CFD.
• Expertise in high-speed data/video analysis in time and frequency domains.
• Experience with designing reusable, propulsively landing rocket engines.
• Experience in an iterative and scrappy development environment. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to travel and communicate outside of work hours.
• Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.   
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing.  
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings. 
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise.