Senior Vibrations Engineer

About Rocket Lab Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and new technology demonstrations. 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 our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope. NEUTRON Rocket Lab’s Neutron team is responsible for bringing our new large rocket Neutron and its launch and test sites to life. From designing and testing Neutron’s structures and components, to firing up its new Archimedes engines, to setting up Neutron’s launch pads and test sites across the United States, joining the Neutron team is an opportunity to help launch a new large rocket for the very first time. Senior Vibrations Engineer As a Senior Vibrations Engineer, you will contribute to analysis, design validation, and future improvements. Day to day, you will be expected to predict and define loads and environments across the vehicle for different components, support testing and qualification campaigns, specify and review instrumentations (accelerometers, strain gauges, thermocouples) located on the vehicle. Scope of work extends to performing detailed simulations, physics‑based analysis, and establishing technical methodology. Responsibilities Define, process, and interpret static and dynamic ground test and flight data, including sensor selection, data acquisition and validation, and environment determination (Random Vibration, Shock, Quasi‑Static, Acoustic, Pressure, Thermal). Perform dynamic simulations, including modal, acoustic, random vibration, sine harmonic, and transient analyses. Define test requirements and directly support testing of vehicle subsystems. Perform, validate, and document structural analyses of primary and secondary launch vehicle structures, including finite element model verification and validation. Lead material selection, performance trade‑off studies, and mass optimization. Implement new theory and tools within the team and establish best practices in dynamics and load derivation. Conduct peer reviews of analyses and mentor junior engineers as required. Qualifications 7+ years industry experience, ideally from the Aerospace, Automotive, or Marine industries. A keen physics‑based approach to problem solving. Demonstrated experience with vibration and shock testing. Demonstrated experience with sensor selection and data post‑processing/interpretation (accelerometers, strain gauges, thermocouples, etc.). Demonstrated experience with static and dynamic structural test methods, including modal characterization, acoustic, random vibration, sine burst, force notching, and shock fixture evaluation. Expertise in engineering programming and data analysis, especially in Python. Experience with finite element modelling and analysis with one or more industry standard structural FEA packages: Femap/NX, Nastran, Simcenter/NX Nastran, Abaqus, OptiStruct/Hyperworks. Comfort executing to changing deadlines within a high‑pressure environment. Comfort working independently and in a team. Effective communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and engineering professionals. Nice to Have Expertise in vibroacoustic modelling. Familiarity with manufacturing processes, including conventional machining, and additive manufacturing. Experience using NX CAD and Teamcenter. Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits 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, lay‑off, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at [email protected]. #J-18808-Ljbffr