Senior Thermofluids Analyst

**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 role**

Rocket Lab seeks a Senior Thermofluids Analysis Engineer to help build the Neutron platform: Rocket Lab's medium lift, reusable launch vehicle capable of human spaceflight.

As a Thermofluids Analyst in Rocket Lab's Analysis team you will contribute to the analysis, design, validation, and improvements of subsystems on the Neutron launch vehicle. Day to day, you will be expected to process flight data to determine the environments experienced by vehicle components, demonstrate positive margins against these environments through detailed analysis, and set the requirements to validate this analysis through test.

**Key Duties**
- Perform, validate, and document multiphysics analyses of launch vehicle systems and provide support for development projects, including:

- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of internal and external flows
- Thermodynamic analysis of internal and external components
- Aerothermal analysis for external heat loads
- Multiphysics interaction, such as conjugated heat transfer (CHT), multiphase flow simulations, cryogenic propellant conditioning, ice build-up
- Perform trade-off studies
- System design and optimization, e.g. propellant management
- Perform risk and failure analysis on a component and system level
- Post-process and interpret ground and flight test data
- Conduct reviews of analyses.
- Work closely with design and test engineers to iterate through design concepts, determine test requirements, and demonstrate overall system performance.
- Provide vision, technical leadership, and coordinate analysis resources

**Essential skills**
- A degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar field
- 3+ year's industry experience, ideally from the Aerospace, Automotive or Marine industries
- Demonstrated expertise with one or more industry standard CFD packages: Fluent, CFX, STAR-CCM+
- Experience in aerodynamics: predicting forces, moments and generating aerotables and aerodynamic control

**Desired Skills**
- Demonstrated experience with dynamic thermofluid systems:

- Buffeting
- Aerotable evaluation & characterisation
- Aerodynamic stability & control
- Propellant Dynamics (_slosh_, flow instabilities, Pogo_)
- Experience with mechanical systems in a relevant field (e.g. aerospace, automotive, marine)
- Experience in python for mathematical modelling, analysis tool development and data handling (numpy, scipy, pandas, git, package deployment, continuous integration)
- Experience with experimental test methods, sensor selection and data post-processing/ interpretation
- The ability to work to deadlines within a high pressure environment
- Communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and engineering professionals
- Demonstrated experience with one or more industry standard thermal modelling packages: Thermal Desktop, THERMICA, NX SST
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes, including conventional machining, and additive manufacturing
- Familiarity with industry standards (e.g. MIL-STD-1540, GSFC-STD-7000, ECSS-E-HB-32, NASA-STD-5001)
- Familiarity with Transient flow modelling/analysis.

**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 - T-shirts, 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 -120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations fromthe U.S Department of State._
- 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, layoff,