Principal R&D Engineer

Rocket Lab Corporation — Auckland, NZ — cdi

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Published on 23 July 2026 · first appeared in our records on 1 September 2026.

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

This posting shows no salary — 17% of open autre postings in NZ do.

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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 style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>NEUTRON</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p><strong>PRINCIPLE R&amp;D ENGINEER</strong></p> <p><span class="TextRun SCXW183794357 BCX8" lang="EN-NZ" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW183794357 BCX8">Rocket Lab seeks a Principal Development Engineer to help build the Neutron platform: Rocket Lab’s medium lift, reusable launch vehicle capable of human spaceflight. As a Principal Development Engineer, you work closely with structural analysts, designers, manufacturing engineers, and the prototyping team to develop and execute the design and certification strategy for mechanical structures and mechanisms across the Neutron launch vehicle. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW183794357 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto"><strong>WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO</strong></span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Development Engineers combine technical excellence with strengths in technical planning and communication.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:180,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">You will combine technical expertise in&nbsp;aerospace/aviation&nbsp;metallic materials with a general understanding of elastomers, and thermal protection systems. Ideally, you have had direct hands-on experience in the design, manufacture, and/or maintenance of high-performance systems in industry </span><em><span data-contrast="auto">(i.e. aerospace, marine, aviation)</span></em> </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">You will be adept at managing to a plan, and comfortable adjusting in response to evolving requirements or external constraints </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">You will be able to clearly describe Neutron’s design, verification, and certification strategy to internal and external customers, and to inspire a team to deliver this vision<span data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Day to day, your key responsibilities could include:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:180,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">&nbsp;Work closely with mechanical engineers to rapidly assess conceptual designs, perform system trade studies, and develop integrated design solutions  </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Define and document material architectural decisions from a component to system level, such as: <em><span data-contrast="auto">material selection, properties, and design allowables; process definition and control; inspection methods; and practices for continuous improvement</span></em><span data-contrast="auto"> </span> </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Design and coordinate/execute testing to generate material property databases for  metallic components  </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Initiate, manage, and control projects including internal and external stakeholders to ensure they deliver on time, to scope, and within budget  </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Actively contribute to technical decision making including conceptual, preliminary, and critical design, test readiness, change management, and risk reviews  </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Proactively identify and solve technical challenges to allow projects to proceed at pace  </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Mentor and technically assist other engineers &nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Successful candidates in this role will thrive in ambiguity, and are excited to work in a small, high performing team focused on continued learning and growth. This position is ideal for an experienced, multidisciplinary engineer keen to support a complex project from conceptual design through to integration and launch.</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto"><strong>YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS</strong></span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&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">&nbsp;Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering <em><span data-contrast="auto">(or equivalent expe