Senior Development Engineer

Rocket Lab is an end‑to‑end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – with the goal of opening access to space. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium‑lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds an extensive line of satellites, payloads, and components, including spacecraft selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope. We’re hiring a Senior Development Engineer (Propulsion Testing) to join our Space Systems team in Auckland. WHAT YOU'LL DO: This is a hands‑on, end‑to‑end development role. You’ll take ownership of propulsion components and fluid systems from early concept through to qualification and production. That means building test setups, running campaigns, analysing results, and solving problems that arise when hardware meets reality. You’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary team to develop new systems and improve existing designs – navigating challenges across development, qualification, and production to ensure mission success. Alongside this, you’ll help raise the standard: reviewing and signing off test plans and reports, guiding risk‑based decisions, and mentoring other engineers. Day‑to‑day, you’ll be deep in testing – planning, instrumentation, execution, and analysis – while keeping a systems‑level view and communicating clearly with stakeholders across the business. 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) We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Rocket Lab is required to comply with U.S. export compliance laws & regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These regulations restrict whom Rocket Lab can share materials with, and whom can receive those materials. Access to these materials is required for employment at Rocket Lab; being unable to meet these export compliance requirements means that you will be ineligible for employment at Rocket Lab. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [email protected]. This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Under these regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. #J-18808-Ljbffr