Rocket Lab USA
Senior Spacecraft Propulsion Test Engineer I
East Long Beach, Los Angeles County · Senior · full-time
Stay score
odds of building a lasting career here
Sponsors, but it's cap-subject — you still face the weighted lottery (~45% per draw at Level III). Good if you win; have a cap-exempt backup on your list.
Lottery odds assume a STEM candidate.
Personalize to your clock →H-1B wage level
the lottery is wage-weighted — each level is one more entry
$4,330 more — $119,330 — moves this role to Level III and 3 lottery entries. That figure is inside the range the employer already advertised.
Based on the DOL prevailing wage for this occupation and worksite, a base salary of $119,330 would place this position at wage Level III. That figure is within the posted range, and I'd like to target it. This role classifies under "Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers" for prevailing-wage purposes.
DOL prevailing wage, 2026-27 wage year · Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (15-1253) · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Wage level is derived by USCIS from the offered wage, occupation and worksite; the occupation shown is inferred from the job title.
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About the role
- This includes ownership of the test facility, equipment, and test operations.
- You will play a critical role in successful development, qualification, and production testing, which directly results in the success of our missions and products.
- Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Responsibilities
- We thrive under pressure, work to tight deadlines, and our focus is always on how we can deliver, rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in rocket engine test engineering, or equivalent high-performance field
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, (aerospace, mechanical, mechatronics, or other technical engineering discipline)
- Ability to travel to test facilities and work off-site for extended periods
- Expertise in instrumentation, automation, and data acquisition using either National Instruments or Beckhoff PLC
Nice to have
- Excited by the opportunity to establish a new capability for Rocket Lab and the country
- Genuine passion for engineering, strong attention to detail, and an eagerness to learn
- Excellent documentation and organization of engineering information, including test plans, test reports, facility configuration management, etc.
- Track record of successfully investigating and resolving the root causes of anomalies during testing or flight
- Strong understanding of standard aerospace testing including random vibration, shock, thermal cycle, thermal vacuum, helium leak, accelerated life, and margined performance testing
- Experience with getting government approvals through NEPA, permitting, or similar processes for construction, industrial, or test operations
- Capabilities using Python for data manipulation and post-processing
- Experience with 1D fluid system modelling
Compensation
- $115,000 - $158,000 USD
- 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.
Visa & Work Authorization
- citizen, lawful U
This listing is sourced directly from Rocket Lab USA's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.