Senior Propulsion and Fluids Test Engineer
SPACE SYSTEMS
At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets - we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.
Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space - our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.
SENIOR PROPULSION AND FLUIDS TEST ENGINEER
At Rocket Lab, the systems you work on don't sit on a shelf - they launch, operate in orbit, and support real missions. From deep space exploration to Earth observation, the work here has weight.
We're hiring a Senior Propulsion and Fluids Test Engineer to join our Space Systems team in Auckland.
WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:
- Own propulsion components and fluid systems from concept through qualification to production
- Design, build, and operate test setups to validate hardware performance
- Plan and execute test campaigns, including instrumentation, data collection, and analysis
- Troubleshoot and resolve hardware issues that emerge during development and testing
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop new systems and improve existing designs
- Navigate technical challenges across development, qualification, and production phases
- Review and approve test plans and reports to maintain engineering standards
- Guide risk-based decision-making for propulsion and fluid systems
- Mentor and support other engineers in technical development and best practices
- Maintain systems-level perspective while managing component-level details
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders across the organization to ensure alignment and mission success
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
- Proven experience developing and testing propulsion, fluid, or other high-performance hardware
- Strong hands-on background with instrumentation, data acquisition, and test execution
- Experience working across the full development lifecycle, from requirements through to production
- Confidence operating in ambiguity and making sound, first-principles engineering decisions
- Experience with LabVIEW (or similar) and data analysis tools
NICE TO HAVE:
- Background in aerospace testing (vibration, thermal, vacuum, leak, or life testing)
- Python for data analysis or modelling experience
- Advanced degree (Masters or PhD)
Apply today!
