Development Engineering Intern - Neutron Thermal Protection Systems

Rocket Lab Corporation — Auckland, NZ — stage

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Published on 4 August 2026 · first appeared in our records on 1 September 2026.

Stable posting: first seen on 1 September 2026, with no abnormal reposting.

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<div class="content-intro"><p><strong>ABOUT ROCKET LAB</strong></p> <p>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.</p></div><p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">ABOUT ROCKET LAB</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Rocket Lab is a global leader in launch and space systems.&nbsp;We're&nbsp;opening access to space to improve life on Earth through our Electron rocket and Neutron launch vehicle programs, alongside our space systems business. From pioneering carbon composite rocket technology to delivering reliable and rapid launch services,&nbsp;we're&nbsp;pushing the boundaries of&nbsp;what's&nbsp;possible in aerospace.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">ABOUT THE ROLE</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">We're&nbsp;looking for a motivated intern to join our Neutron Thermal Protection Systems team in Auckland. This role provides&nbsp;additional&nbsp;capacity for progression and completion of several goals within the Thermal Protection Systems Team. You will work on&nbsp;cutting-edge&nbsp;thermal protection technologies for Neutron, Rocket Lab's medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">This internship also provides a pathway for assessment and upskilling of potential candidates for Junior engineering roles, while building familiarization between the local candidate pool and our organization.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">This is an opportunity to work on real space technology projects and contribute to missions that are&nbsp;literally reaching&nbsp;for the stars.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">WHAT YOU WILL DO</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">MTPS Test &amp; Development:</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="12" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Conduct thermal testing activities and explore alternative materials for the Metallic Thermal Protection System (MTPS) stack-up</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="12" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Perform bench-scale torch testing and/or sub-scale integrated article testing under representative thermal environments</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="12" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Identify&nbsp;and source candidate materials for improved performance, durability, or mass efficiency</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="12" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Analyse candidate materials and TPS design features for engineering trade studies and performance optimization</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="12" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lead the sourcing, integration, and testing of candidate materials using in-house or external thermal testing resources</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Materials Characterization:</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Evaluation of the thermal response for candidate materials at elevated and cryogenic temperatures</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Validate the mechanical and thermal properties of composite, soft goods, metallic, and TPS articles for verification of manufacturing methods and processes</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="11" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Analyse prototype articles and TPS design features for performance optimization</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Thermal Test Facility Design &amp; Upgrade:</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Design and implement upgrades to the TPS team's thermal exposure test cells and hardware</span><span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Implement improvements to the controls, instrumentation, and DAQ for thermal exposure