Senior Vibrations Engineer

rocketlab

Auckland, NZ · Auckland · New Zealand

Posted Jul 2, 2026

Other
2249 Neutron - Integrated Analysis

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Job description

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.

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 VIBRATIONS ENGINEER

As a Senior Vibrations Engineer, you will contribute to its analysis, design validation, and future improvements. Day to day, you will be expected to predict and define loads and environments across vehicle for different components, support testing and qualification campaigns, specify and reviews instrumentations (accelerometers, strain gauges, thermocouples) location on the vehicle. Scope of work extend to perform detailed simulations, physics-based analysis and establishing technical methodology.

WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

Define, process, and interpret static and dynamic ground test and flight data, including:
- Sensor selection
- Data acquisition and validation
- Environment determination (Random Vibration, Shock, Quasi-Static, Acoustic, Pressure, Thermal)
Perform dynamic simulations, including:
- Modal
- Acoustic
- Random vibration
- Sine harmonic
- Transient
Define test requirements and directly support testing of vehicle subsystems.
Perform, validate, and document structural analyses of primary and secondary launch vehicle structures, including:
- Finite element model verification and validation
- Material selection
- Performance of trade-off studies
- Mass optimization
Help implement new theory and tools within the team and establish best practices in dynamics and load derivation
Conduct peer reviews of analyses
Mentor more junior engineers as required

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

7+ years industry experience, ideally from the Aerospace, Automotive, or Marine industries
A keen physics-based approach to problem solving
Demonstrated Experience with vibration and shock testing
Demonstrated Experience with sensor selection and data post-processing/interpretation (accelerometers, strain gauges, thermocouples etc.)
Demonstrated Experience with static and dynamic structural test methods, including:
- Modal Characterization
- Acoustic
- Random vibration
- Sine burst
- Force notching
- Shock
- Fixture evaluation
Expertise with engineering programming and data analysis, especially in Python
Experience with finite element modelling and analysis with one or more industry standard structural FEA packages: Femap/NX Nastran, Simcenter/NX Nastran, Abaqus,Optistruct/HyperworksComfort executing to changing deadlines within a high-pressure environment
Comfort working independently and in a team
Effective communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and engineering professionals

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE

Expertise in vibroacoustic modelling
Familiarity with manufacturing processes, including conventional machining, and additive manufacturing
Experience using NX CAD and Teamcenter

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.