Lead Recovery Engineer

$90,000 - $160,000/Yr

Rocket Lab USA - Long Beach, CA

posted 2 months ago

Full-time - Mid Level
Long Beach, CA
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

Rocket Lab is seeking a Lead Recovery Engineer to join our team in Long Beach, California. This position is pivotal in the development of the Neutron Recovery program, which is essential for the successful downrange landings of our Neutron rocket. The Lead Recovery Engineer will be responsible for building and leading a high-performing team dedicated to the design and development of all offshore recovery assets. This role requires close collaboration with various critical teams within the Neutron development group, including Ground Systems, GNC, Software, Avionics, Mechanical Systems, and Propulsion. The successful candidate will oversee the design and implementation of recovery systems, ensuring that all hardware and systems are operational and ready for testing and recovery operations. In this role, you will guide a small team of engineers through the early stages of the Neutron Recovery program, owning critical recovery system designs and analyses. You will serve as the technical expert for marine system designs and provide strategic direction on development plans, including hardware construction and testing methodologies. Building and maintaining relationships with key vendors and contractors will be essential throughout the recovery system lifecycle. Additionally, you will support recovery system fabrication and testing both remotely and onsite at various facilities, including Wallops Island. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mechanical, naval, marine, electrical, systems, or aerospace engineering, with at least 5 years of professional experience in designing, building, operating, or maintaining complex mechanical, marine, or electrical hardware. Experience in leading teams through challenging technical projects is also crucial. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the future of space exploration and technology development at Rocket Lab.

Responsibilities

  • Guide a small team of engineers through the early stages of developing the Neutron Recovery program
  • Own critical Recovery system designs, analysis and other technical details as needed to support the objectives of the team
  • Serve as technical expert for marine system designs required for Neutron Recovery
  • Provide strategy on development plans including what hardware to build and how tests are performed in order to maximize the program's available resources towards meaningful progress on Neutron
  • Build and maintain relationships with key vendors and contractors as needed through the Recovery system lifecycle
  • Collaborate heavily with Rocket Lab Engineering teams to ensure all systems are operational to support Neutron Recovery
  • Support Recovery system fabrication and testing both remotely and onsite as needed at Wallops Island as well as other facilities

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, naval, marine, electrical, systems or aerospace engineering, or related field
  • 5+ years professional experience designing, building, operating or maintaining complex mechanical, marine or electrical hardware
  • Experience successfully leading a team through a challenging technical project or program

Nice-to-haves

  • 5+ years professional experience in Maritime or Aerospace field
  • Experience designing and building complex, multi-disciplinary systems including Electrical, Mechanical, Hydraulic, Fluids, or Marine Systems
  • Experience leading teams of engineers to successful outcomes on challenging projects with tight timelines and budgets
  • Past work experience, internships, or projects related to aerospace vehicles/payloads, automotive, aircraft, or marine assemblies
  • Self-motivated and directed with keen attention to detail
  • Ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work
  • Detail oriented, organized, and demonstrate a high sense of urgency
  • Ability to work in fast-paced, high stress and remote environments
  • Ability to work autonomously, prioritize work, and make resource allocation recommendations that involve risk and uncertainty

Benefits

  • Top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option
  • Dental and vision coverage
  • 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year
  • 11 paid holidays per year
  • Flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts
  • Paid parental leave
  • Disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match
  • Discounted employee stock purchase program
  • Subsidized EV charging stations
  • Onsite gym, food and drinks, childcare concierge, and other discounts
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