Vehicle Design 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 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.

Shape the future of space exploration by contributing to the design and development of cutting-edge spacecraft technology. Join a dynamic team focused on mechanical design, testing, analysis, configuration control, and project engineering. Dive into the complexities of spacecraft systems, ensuring that every component meets rigorous standards for performance, reliability, and safety.

VEHICLE DESIGN ENGINEER – ELECTRON
As a Vehicle Design Engineer at Rocket Lab, you'll contribute to the mechanical design of the Electron rocket, the world's first mass-produced orbital launch vehicle. From initial concepts through to spaceflight, your designs will make a direct impact on the success of missions.

In this role, you'll work on the development of key systems and hardware for the Electron rocket, including primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, and fluid systems. You'll collaborate with senior engineers, contribute to design improvements, and help refine how we approach spacecraft design, from tools to techniques.

What You'll Get To Do

• Contribute to design improvements: Assist in executing design changes across the Electron vehicle and its systems, focusing on performance optimization, manufacturing efficiency, and risk mitigation.
• Support design workflows: Help improve internal design processes to reduce engineering cycle times and enable efficient, high-quality production outcomes.
• Solve real-world challenges: Work closely with the production floor to identify and resolve quality issues, applying engineering solutions to ensure mission success.
• Support mission configurations: Develop configurations tailored to specific customer payloads, ensuring the Electron rocket is ready for any mission profile.
• Collaborate on product direction: Help define design requirements and translate them into manufacturable hardware that meets performance goals.
• Prototype and iterate: Assist in designing, testing, and refining prototype components to support new systems and mission-specific configurations.
• Document designs: Contribute to the creation and maintenance of engineering documentation, including FMEA, P&IDs, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and technical reports to ensure safe and reliable operations.

You'll Thrive Here If You

• Enjoy designing real-world spaceflight hardware and seeing your work become part of space missions.
• Value mentorship and teamwork—contributing to both engineering solutions and the development of junior engineers.
• Recognise that successful engineering is a collaborative process, requiring close teamwork across multiple departments.
• Take a systems-level approach to design, always looking for ways to improve integration and iteration.

You'll Bring These Qualifications & Skills

• Solid experience with CAD and PLM tools (NX CAD & Teamcenter preferred).
• 3-4 years of engineering experience, ideally in launch vehicles, high-performance systems, or complex mechanical assemblies.
• A bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Mechatronics Engineering (or related field).
• Experience with cryogenics, composites, mechanical assemblies, or pressurized systems is a plus.
• Strong ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and contribute to subsystem assessments.
• Experience working on projects under tight timelines, and the ability to handle pressure in fast-paced environments.

Ready to take your career to new heights?
Apply now to become a Vehicle Design Engineer at Rocket Lab and help us push the boundaries of space exploration.

Meet 50% of the requirements? We still want to hear from you—Rocket Lab is hiring across multiple levels.
What To Expect
We're on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth, but that's not an easy task. It takes hard work, determination, relentless innovation, teamwork, grit, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think, out-work and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each other's backs, checking our egos at the door, and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. 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.

Important Information
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.
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, 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 dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.
FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:
For security reasons background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations, click here ITAR Regulations.