Team Lead

2 weeks ago

Mount Wellington, New Zealand Rocket Lab USA Full time

Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is a vertically integrated provider of small launch services, satellites, and spacecraft components. Our mission is to open access to space to improve life on Earth. Our team is over 1,500 people strong and we're adding to it every week. Collaboration is at our core - every idea is heard, and everyone makes a difference. Teams are nimble, decisions are made quickly, and we are action oriented.

Life at Rocket Lab

While other companies talk about it, we do it

About the team


The In-Space Propulsion team is one of three teams responsible for developing and delivering qualified, flight-ready space vehicle propulsion systems.

The other two teams are responsible for spacecraft fluids systems and propulsion system testing, though there is significant overlap and strong collaboration between the three.

The ISP team takes on system-level and component-level ownership, mostly developed in-house from mission requirement through to integration and beyond, including pre-launch, launch, and on orbit operations support.

Examples of past work include the Curie and HyperCurie engines, and currently the team is working on the whole propulsion system for ESCAPADE, a NASA science mission to Mars.

The team consists of development engineers with a range of experience level and skill sets.

Generally, each engineer is expected to be capable of owning a component or system through its development lifecycle and production implementation.

This means that the skillset of the team spans systems engineering, design, build, and test, though individuals may have their specializations.

The team works hands-on, often alongside technicians, with development, qualification, and flight hardware. Team members interface regularly with stakeholders across the company, including GNC, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Flight Software, Analysis, and others.

Key responsibilities

  • Leadership and management of individual team members and projects across multiple programs
  • Upholding high company standards for best practice and quality of work
  • Technical problem solving, review, and guidance for the team
  • Making escalated decisions and solving team/company challenges through guidance and resource allocation of direct reports
  • Managing technical risk within the scope of immediate team
  • Communicating effectively with leadership and other teams
  • Planning including staffing and budgetary estimation
  • Capturing and refining or potentially defining processes that are important to the team's work and performance
  • Managing and improving interfaces between the team and internal customers
  • Support team members with regular 1:1s, coaching on professional development, and performance reviews
  • Ensuring that the team and individual contributors are working in a way that is in the best interest of the Space Systems business unit and broader company

Essential skills

  • At least 5 years of work in fastpaced development environment in aerospace or similar industries
  • At least 1 year of experience in a formal or informal technical leadership role
  • Strong understanding of best practices for project management, systems engineering, hardware development process, and configuration management
  • Demonstrable ability to move efficiently through development iterations, balancing cost, quality, and timeline effectively.
  • Handson hardware testing experience
  • Excellent grasp of mechanical engineering fundamentals (e.g. stress, strain, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, mechanisms)
  • Good ability to work under pressure and maintain emotional composure under stress
  • Engineering degree

Desired Skills

  • Endtoend rocket engine or spacecraft propulsion system development and operation program leadership
  • Proven track record of leading a team to deliver multiple complete and successful engineering projects from concept to operation
  • Has worked on variety of propulsion systems utilizing different storable propellants
  • Experience with both chemical and electric propulsion
  • Siemens NX and Teamcenter proficiency
  • Jama or equivalent requirement management software
  • GD&T and engineering drawings
  • NI software and instrumentation hardware

Rocket Lab Employee Benefits

  • The opportunity to work on innovative and ground breaking technology
  • An employee stock purchase program
  • Access to world leading experts to develop your career
  • Unlimited barista coffee, fruit, and snacks


 Rocket Lab merchandise
  • Tshirts, mission patches etc.
  • Discounted health insurance with Southern Cross
  • Additional parental leave entitlements
  • A vibrant team culture with social activities throughout the year
If the above sounds like you
apply now

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

  • To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen as defined by ITAR (22 CFR or eligible to obtain the required authorizations fromthe U.S Dep

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