Senior Propulsion Transients & Performance Engineer I

Job Description

Rocket Lab is seeking a Senior Propulsion Transients & Performance Engineer I to join their team in Long Beach, CA. This role focuses on the creation and maintenance of engine transient and steady-state models, as well as owning the overall performance of the startup and shutdown of the Archimedes Engines. The engineer will contribute to developing startup and shutdown campaigns for the Archimedes engine family and assist in maintaining engine performance models for vehicle-level analysis.Responsibilities:

• Develop transient startup and shutdown simulations for the Archimedes engines family.
• Develop and maintain startup and shutdown valve sequences and test campaigns for engine transients verification.
• Support test site and vehicle transients test campaigns with data review, model grounding, and valve sequence changes for engine testing.
• Serve as the technical expert engine POC for all engine transients.
• Work closely with other engine leads to ensure communication of subcomponent and vehicle system needs to support healthy engine transients.
• Create and maintain data processing tools.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience with fluids system analysis of a cryogenic liquid propulsion rocket engine.
• Demonstrated expertise using or building a lumped parameter fluid analysis tool.
• Knowledge of fundamentals in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and fluid system design.

Nice to have:

• Advanced degree in a fluid mechanics-heavy field.
• 4+ years of experience designing and operating an engine system or components for a staged combustion rocket engine.
• Experience with ROCet Engine Transient Simulation Software (ROCETS).
• Experience with Methyl/LOX fluid systems.

Benefits:

• Company equity
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts
• Paid parental leave
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Discounted employee stock purchase program
• Subsidized EV charging stations
• Onsite gym, food, and drinks
• Childcare concierge and other discounts