Rocket Lab Corporation

Rocket Lab Corporation

Senior Optomechanical Engineer I/II

Pasadena, CA · Senior

Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 8 days ago
Supply ChainProcurementSolidWorksFEAGD&TRoboticsMechanical DesignProblem SolvingTolerance Analysis

About the role

  • Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives.
  • 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.
  • You will help turn optical and sensor concepts into flight-capable hardware that is mechanically robust, align-able, manufacturable, testable, and stable through launch, thermal, vibration, and operational environments.

Responsibilities

  • 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 exciting 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 that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Based on site at Rocket Lab Robotics in Pasadena, CA, the Senior Optomechanical Engineer I/II i s responsible for leading mechanical design efforts for optical payloads, camera systems, precision mechanisms, sensor assemblies, tooling, fixtures, ground support equipment, and electromechanical hardware.
  • You will translate program, payload, production, and test needs into practical opto-mechanical architectures and drive approved designs through design, analysis, review, procurement, assembly, integration, precision alignment, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
  • The ideal candidate is a hands-on opto-mechanical engineer with strong SolidWorks, precision mechanical design, tolerance analysis, STOP analysis, and spaceflight hardware delivery experience.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline.
  • 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
  • Experience designing precision mechanical hardware, opto-mechanical assemblies, mechanisms, aerospace hardware, sensor assemblies, or electromechanical systems.
  • Experience with SolidWorks CAD modeling, production drawing creation, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and mechanical design documentation.
  • Experience designing hardware where alignment, stiffness, thermal stability, vibration response, tolerance stack-up, and manufacturability are important to system performance.
  • 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
  • Experience delivering spaceflight hardware from concept through design, build, integration, environmental test, qualification, and flight delivery.
  • Experience performing or leading structural-thermal-optical performance analysis, thermal-elastic analysis, or equivalent analysis used to verify opto-mechanical alignment, stability, and performance through launch and flight environments.
  • Experience leading component or subsystem designs from concept through build, procurement, integration, test, qualification, and production readiness.
  • Experience using engineering fundamentals, first-principles hand calculations, tolerance stack-up analysis, FEA, STOP analysis, inspection data, and test data to make design decisions.
  • Hands-on experience supporting hardware integration, troubleshooting, inspection, test, environmental qualification, or precision alignment activities.

Nice to have

  • Master's or PhD in mechanical, aerospace, optical, mechatronics, robotics, or other engineering discipline.
  • This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

Compensation

  • 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
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This listing is sourced directly from Rocket Lab Corporation's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.