Senior / Principal Propulsion Engineer
Rocket Lab Corporation · Long Beach, CA
Posted about 3 months ago
or apply directly on Rocket Lab Corporation's site. We never take the application ourselves.
Is this posting real?
- This role has been open
- 87 days Rocket Lab Corporation's roles stay open a median of 85 days
- Reposted
- No
- Salary listed
- No 0% of Rocket Lab Corporation's roles list one
- Ghost-job risk at Rocket Lab Corporation
- high 455 stale, 12 reposted of 455 open
- Hiring momentum
- 683 roles opened in the last 90 days ↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
- Last confirmed on the employer's board
- 2026-10-29
Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Rocket Lab Corporation's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Rocket Lab Corporation.
About this role
As a Principal Propulsion Engineer at Rocket Lab, you will be integral to the development and operation of the Archimedes Engine for the Neutron rocket program. Your daily responsibilities will include designing and testing propulsion hardware, executing test plans, analyzing data, and collaborating with various engineering teams to ensure engine performance and reliability. You will also mentor junior engineers and support the engine lifecycle from design through operation.
- benefits
- 5/5
- freshness
- 1/5
- career value
- 5/5
- role clarity
- 5/5
- pay transparency
- 0/5
Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Rocket Lab Corporation as an employer.
What you need
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field
- 12+ years of experience in rocket engine development, testing, or operations
- Strong technical understanding of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, cryogenic systems, and rocket engine architecture
- Familiarity with engine P&IDs, fluid system routing, and hotfire data reviews
Nice to have
- Advanced degree in a fluid mechanics-heavy field
- Experience with ox-rich staged combustion systems and Methyl/LOX propellants
- Background in failure analysis, combustion dynamics, turbopump mechanics, and hydraulics
- Familiarity with reusable rocket engine systems and test/launch facility operations
- Experience with best practices for design, qualification, and production
What you get
- Competitive base pay
- Company stock as part of total compensation package
- Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock
- Top-tier medical plans (HMO, PPO, and zero cost HDHP option with significant HSA contribution)
- Dental and vision coverage
- Paid vacation and sick time
Worth weighing
- No specific mention of remote work options
- Role requires strong autonomy and ability to influence cross-functional teams, which may be challenging for some candidates
- Position may involve exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas
Summarised from Rocket Lab Corporation's posting. Read the full original.
Listed by Rocket Lab Corporation on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-10-29. PitchMeAI is not the employer.
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