Senior Structural Analyst

Rocket Lab Corporation
Auckland, New Zealand
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have 5+ years of structural analysis experience in high performance applications and a strong background in composites engineering. This role is based in Auckland, New Zealand, and involves close collaboration with design, manufacturing, and test engineers.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 5+ years of structural analysis experience in high-performance aerospace or defense sectors
    — “5+ years’ experience performing structural analysis in high performance applications”
  • Individuals who have worked with composite components and understand their design and testing nuances
    — “Experience with structural testing of composite components or assemblies”
  • Candidates who can lead from concept to completion and mentor junior engineers
    — “Owning your designs from concept to completion. Technically assist junior engineers.”

Things to consider

  • Geographic constraints may apply due to background checks and nationality verification
    — “For security reasons, background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks”
  • The role demands working to tight deadlines in a high-pressure environment
    — “The ability to work to deadlines within a high-pressure environment”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with composites analysis and validation of structural assemblies
    — “Support the analysis of primary and secondary structures, including composites and metallic components”
  • Demonstrate expertise in FE modeling for static, dynamic, and thermal loads
    — “Build, run, and post-process FE models to calculate design responses and margins to static, dynamic, and thermal loads”
  • Showcase collaboration with design and manufacturing teams on material selection and build processes
    — “Collaborate with design engineers to develop concepts, and manufacturing engineers to identify suitable materials, and define pragmatic build processes”
  • Emphasize your ability to identify and resolve technical challenges quickly
    — “Proactively identify and solve technical challenges to allow projects to proceed at pace”
  • Include experience with structural test data interpretation and test plan development
    — “Work alongside test engineers to define test plans, monitor test activities, and post-process test data against analytical predictions”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • development and validation of primary and secondary structures
  • collaboration with design and manufacturing engineers
  • definition of test plans and post-processing of test data
Typical background
degree in Mechanical Engineering5+ years of experience in structural analysis

Skills & requirements

Required

Structural AnalysisComposite EngineeringFinite Element Analysis (fea)Structural TestingComposite Manufacturing

Preferred

Defect And Damage Tolerance AssessmentLinear And Non-linear BucklingComposite Joint DesignSensor Selection And Data Post-processingCAD SoftwareProduct Lifecycle Management Software

Stack & domain

Structural AnalysisFE ModelsComposite EngineeringStructural FEA PackagesStructural TestingComposite ManufactureCAD SoftwareProduct Lifecycle Management SoftwareCollaborationProblem-solvingTime ManagementTeamworkSpace IndustryEngineering

About the role

Original posting from Rocket Lab Corporation via Greenhouse

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems that keep the world connected, protected, expand humanity’s reach to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We move fast, build real hardware for meaningful missions, and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

While other companies talk about it, we do it!

NEUTRON

Rocket Lab’s Neutron team is responsible for bringing our new large rocket Neutron and its launch and test sites to life. From designing and testing Neutron’s structures and components, to firing up its new Archimedes engines, to setting up Neutron’s launch pads and test sites across the United States, joining the Neutron team is your opportunity to help launch a new large rocket for the very first time.

SENIOR STRUCTURAL ANALYST - NEUTRON

Rocket Lab seeks a Senior Structural Analyst to build Neutron: Rocket Lab’s medium lift, reusable launch.

As a Senior Structural Analyst you will work directly with design, manufacturing, and test engineers to develop and validate primary and secondary structures for the Neutron launch vehicle: owning your designs from concept to completion. 

This role is based in Auckland, New Zealand.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO:

Support  the analysis of primary and secondary structures, including composites and metallic components, and integrated structural assemblies

Build, run, and post-process FE models to calculate design responses and margins to static, dynamic, and thermal loads

Collaborate with design engineers to develop concepts, and manufacturing engineers to identify suitable materials, and define pragmatic build processes

Work alongside test engineers to define test plans, monitor test activities, and post-process test data against analytical predictions

Develop and document structural analysis methods

Proactively identify and solve technical challenges to allow projects to proceed at pace

Technically assist junior engineers. 

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

A degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar field 

5+ years’ experience performing structural analysis in high performance applications

Strong understanding of composites engineering fundamentals (mechanics of materials, classical lamination theory, material property characterization, design best practices, analysis methods, and manufacturing processes)

Demonstrated expertise with one or more industry standard structural FEA packages: NASTRAN (FEMAP), ANSYS, Abaqus, Optistruct/Hyperworks etc. 

Experience with structural testing of composite components or assemblies

Familiarity supporting composite manufacture and prototyping  

The ability to work to deadlines within a high-pressure environment 

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

Experience with defect and damage tolerance assessment of composite structures including the disposition of hardware non-conformances 

Experience in linear and non-linear buckling

Experience in composite joint design

Experience with sensor selection and data post-processing/ interpretation of static & dynamic structural test (load cells, accelerometers, strain gauges, LVDT’s etc.)

Experience with CAD software such as NX (preferred), Fibersim (preferred), Solidworks, CATIA, or similar with a focus on model defeaturing for subsequent analysis

Experience using Product Lifecycle Management software such as Teamcenter (preferred), Windchill, or similar

Hands-on composites manufacturing experience 

If the above sounds like you apply now!

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 g.biow@rocketlabusa.com.This 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.

Source: Rocket Lab Corporation careers (Greenhouse)

Similar roles